Warning about rise of ‘car cannibalism’ across the UK as insurer reveals five most common parts targeted by thieves

DRIVERS are being warned about a rise of "car cannibalism" by insurers as the parts most commonly stolen by thieves are revealed.

Car cannibalism is when criminals strip cars of their most profitable parts to sell them on for profit.

Bonnets, bumpers and headlights are among the parts often nicked by criminals running illegal "chop shops".

The thieves will then sell on the parts, sometimes even shipping them overseas.

Insurers Admiral and Aviva have told The Sun they have seen an increase in the number of vehicle parts being stolen.

Ian Jones, operations manager for theft at Admiral, said: "Over the past two years, we've seen a steady increase in the number of car thefts, driven by a few different factors including the rise of illegal 'chop shops'."

Chop shops are places where stolen vehicles are dismantled so the parts can be sold or used to repair other stolen vehicles.

While some criminals will strip the car for parts where it is parked, he said others will steal the whole vehicle before "stripping and reselling the valuable parts across the country or if stolen to order, shipping overseas".

Thieves can "act quickly" if they take the whole vehicle, he said.

"It also means they can get the vehicle up on a ramp in a ‘chop shop’ and take their time when dismantling for lucrative parts."

Compare the Market said car cannibalism is now a "common crime" in the UK.

Meanwhile, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) said vehicle crime is a "major issue" across the UK and the theft of car parts has been increasing.

"Insurers take theft of and from vehicles very seriously and work closely with the police to help tackle it," it said.

What parts are being stolen?

Mr Jones said that when criminals steal the whole vehicle, they tend to strip out all parts of the car.

But when just the parts are taken, the most common ones to be stolen are:

• Parking sensors
• Air bags/steering wheel
• Front bumper
• Bonnet
• Centre console

Aviva also said its data revealed the most commonly stolen parts include those ";bolted on", such as headlights, grills and wings.

It said external sensors and steering wheels are usually taken because they are "in short supply or expensive".

Revealed: Where cases are happening the most

According to Admiral, the most commonly targeted area is Birmingham's B postcode.

This is closely followed by London's SW postcode, which covers largely wealthy areas including Chelsea, Fulham, Battersea, Clapham, Wandsworth, Putney, Wimbledon and Streatham.

Mr Jones said car cannibalism rates are "quite high"; across the whole of the capital.

“Historically most chop shops were set up near UK ports as cars were stripped and their parts shipped overseas," he said.

"However, the increased value and scarcity of car parts in the UK has meant more cars are taken to chop shops in other parts of the UK, for example the West Midlands, South Yorkshire, Greater Manchester and Nottinghamshire."

How can you decrease your risk?

There are some steps you can take to deter criminals from targeting your car.

Admiral says you should make your vehicle "as inconvenient to steal as possible", such as by parking in an area that is well-lit and not too secluded.

If possible, try to find a secure car park.

Bollards, parking barriers or wheel locks may also deter thieves.

Another step you can take is to keep your vehicle's software up to date in case its manufacturer rolls out a security update.

Aviva recommends installing a Thatcham-approved alarm system with tracking.

You could also try immobilisers or anti-grab sensors.