Record number of illegal ‘chop shops’ as thieves target high-value components
Tue, 28 Apr 2026
lllegal 'chop shops' are on the rise due to the lucrative trade in stolen vehicles and – more crucially – the value of parts.
According to stolen vehicle recovery firm Tracker Network UK, a record 78 illegal chop shops were closed down by police in 2025, a 30% increase on the 60 shuttered in 2024.
Modern chop shops are often precision dismantling lines. Criminals aren't just looking for engines, they want high-margin components that are currently on back-order at garages.
On brands such as Land Rover, BMW and Mercedes, a single LED headlight unit can retail for over £1500. Thieves can pop these out in under 60 seconds without even entering the car.
And while thefts of catalytic convertors peaked a few years ago, the high price of rhodium and palladium keeps these a staple for chop shops. A hybrid Toyota Prius or Auris is a jackpot because their converters contain higher concentrations of precious metals.
Meanwhile, airbags and Infotainment are other targets. With global supply chain delays, a second-hand steering wheel with an intact airbag or a touchscreen head unit from a VW Golf can be sold on online marketplaces within hours of the theft.
In 2020, Tracker and the police shut down two chop shops, with eight closed in 2021 and a jump to 44 closed down in 2022. The following year, 55 were closed. Arrests are also up, with UK police making 147 arrests in 2025, an increase on the figure for 2024.
Winning the battle?
However, Tracker warns that as one chop shop is shut down, another quickly opens as organised crime gangs aim to stay ahead of the police.
“Although we have not won the war on vehicle theft, our close collaboration with UK police and law enforcement bodies means we are winning significant battles, says Clive Wain, Head of Police Liaison at Tracker.
"A year-on-year rise of nearly a third in the number of chop shops found and closed is significant. However, many career criminals are willing to risk prosecution due to the substantial profits made through the illegal trade in stolen vehicles and their parts, which means we are in truth, playing a chop shop equivalent of whack-a-mole.”
Tracker's vehicle location tracking devices are used to help lead police to suspected chop shop locations. The firm has an agreement with all UK police forces, with most police cars and all police helicopters equipped with its technology to help in the fight against organised car crime.
The firm states that cars of every make and model of any age are at risk, as cost of living pressures mean that drivers are holding on to cars for longer. Official figures say 43% of cars on UK roads are over 10 years old.
How to keep your car safe
- Double-locking: Always check if your car has a deadlock mode (usually two clicks on the fob).
- Old-school security: The rise of chop shops has seen a massive comeback for steering wheel locks (like the Disklok). Even if a thief can hack the software, they don't want the noisy job of cutting through physical steel.
- Marking parts: Use invisible forensic marking kits (like SelectaDNA or SmartWater). It makes the parts too hot to handle for many chop shop operators.
