RAY MASSEY: It’s time to fight back against thieves cannibalising cars!

Having your car stolen is the least of it these days, it seems. Fuelled by the rising cost of vehicle spare parts, thieves are now adopting a cannibalistic diet.

They are stripping cars of their most valuable parts and leaving behind sorry wrecks – plus thousands of pounds in repair bills.

Some of the stolen haul is resold as spares and some used in wider crimes. This ranges from high-intensity LED headlamps ripped from their sockets (used in illegal cannabis farms for stimulating plant growth) to number plates which disguise the identity of cars used for criminal activity.

Usually operating at night, thieves meticulously dismantle vehicles parked on driveways, on the street, or in car parks to steal components such as catalytic converters (prized for their precious metals), alloy wheels and sophisticated electronic systems.

Ripped open: Criminals are stripping vehicles for spare parts

Parking sensors, airbags, front bumpers, bonnets and even cruise-control sensors are among targets, while headlights, grilles and wings are also easily unbolted. Brake discs, brake pads and wiper blades are likewise at risk of theft. Indeed, the growing scourge was highlighted by the Daily Mail just last week.

But you can fight back. Compiled with the help of stolen vehicle recovery experts Tracker Network UK (tracker.co.uk), here are some tips to help motorists protect themselves.

• Avoid parking in unlit areas as darkness provides thieves with valuable cover.
• Motion-activated security lights at home help ensure thieves will be visible. 
• Invest in a ‘candid camera’. A visible CCTV or a video doorbell that covers your parked car will prove a deterrent. 
• Many in-car dashcams include ‘parking mode’ features that record sudden movement when the ignition is off. 
• They might not totally prevent a vehicle from being stolen but alarms discourage thieves from hanging around. 
• Make life difficult for them by fitting security posts or a substantial gate on your drive. 
• Park with your car’s nose to the wall. The most desirable parts are at the front of the vehicle. 
• Etch any parts that might be stolen with the vehicle’s registration number. 
• Invest in a tracking device with motion sensors that detect unauthorised movement. 

At its most sophisticated level, criminals run illegal ‘chop shop’ garages to unlawfully strip apart stolen motor vehicles so their parts can be sold on. Last year Tracker helped police uncover a record 60 chop shops and arrest 144 suspects – an 80 per cent increase in arrests compared to 2023.

Clive Wain, vehicle theft expert and head of police Liaison at Tracker said: ‘This theft technique is fast.

‘Thieves often operate with a calculated efficiency, using specialised tools to quickly and quietly remove parts, minimising the risk of detection. Rising demand for more affordable spare parts has seen car cannibalisation increasing.’

Mr Wain added: ‘The psychological toll on drivers, knowing their vehicles are vulnerable even in their own driveways, adds a layer of anxiety to daily life, disrupting the peace they expect at home.

‘There is an urgent need to ramp up vehicle security. Parking on a private driveway or using a steering wheel lock or secure post in front of the vehicle is no longer enough to protect vehicles. Motorists must go further to deter criminals from targeting their car.’

Toyota’s Previa named Britain’s most reliable car

The family runaround, ceased UK sales in 2005, but it is in pole position in the MotorEasy Reliability Index based on real-time claims data on 341 car models across 45 makes and evaluating average repair costs and frequency.

Previa’s dependability and repair affordability scored 9.8 out of 10 ahead of Skoda Citigo, Kia Niro, SEAT Arona, Suzuki Vitara, Lexus CT, Fiat Tipo, Toyota C-HR, Kia Soul and Suzuki Jimny.

Favourite: Previa’s dependability and repair affordability scored 9.8 out of 10

Dacia was the most reliable brand followed by Suzuki, Infiniti, Honda, Toyota and Lexus.

Tesla’s Model X EV was named least reliable car, and ‘dependability remains a cause for concern’ for Jaguar Land Rover with some three models in the bottom ten.

Models from premium brands Audi, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche join Tesla and JLR with all ten sharing a dismal one out of ten score.