Drivers told to park car in garage as crime-wave 'epidemic' sweeps across UK

Drivers around the country are being warned of a crime-wave "epidemic" sweeping across the country as thieves have begun targeting cars fuelling illegal chop shops. The concept known as car cannibalism has been on the rise and involves criminals stealing parts off your car and selling them to these black market shops.

New data from Admiral Insurance suggests that thefts of car parking sensors have risen by 400% between 2023 and 2024. But it's not just parking cameras that are being stolen, thieves are also known to take steering wheels, airbags, wing mirrors, catalytic converters and even car emblems. With all these stolen parts going around the market, illegal chop shops have been on the rise, with the illegal parts making their way back onto the market.

Now, experts are coming out to warn against this type of crime, and are giving some useful advice to try to protect yourself and your car from these thieves.

Alex Wyard, director of technical underwriting at Allianz, told Autocar: "Parking sensors are easily accessible and have a high resale demand.

"Criminals see parts theft as an easy way to make extra cash, and we have seen an increase in all types of theft relating to cars over the past year.

“New airbags can cost as much as £1200, but thieves sell stolen ones for a fraction of the price. Wing mirrors, catalytic converters, wheels and car emblems are also quick to sell on.”

They suggest always parking your car in safe areas, out of sight, where possible. For longer stays, private car parks and garages are the best options as they are usually covered by CCTV and monitored.

If you don't have access to a secure parking space, consider parking in a well-lit area with high foot traffic, and try to deter any prospective thieves.

The Midlands seems to be particularly at risk of this crime. Mark Silvester, of West Midlands Police, said: “Unlike car theft, parts theft is an opportunistic crime rather than organised. It is often carried out when someone has posted online that they’re searching for a particular part. Motorists can help stamp it out by avoiding parts whose source is not legitimate or which are not sold under a scheme such as eBay’s Certified Recycled scheme.”

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Although it is unlikely that you will recover stolen parts, there are ways that you can mark them that can help the police identify them as yours should the parts be recovered.

Mark Barclay, Head of Ecommerce at My Motor World, added: “Like grand theft auto, car cannibalism is another big worry for car owners. Because the parts that are stolen are so hard to retrieve and are of comparatively little value, it’s very unlikely you’ll get them back.

"Taking precautions against theft and ensuring you have insurance are the best ways to protect your car from cannibalism.

“You may find it useful to keep a supply of spares in your home or a secure garage, particularly for parts like lights. If your vehicle is cannibalised, you can then quickly install a new part and be back on the road in no time.”