Stealing whole vehicles is popular with thieves across the world, especially in cases of profit-motivated theft. Stolen vehicles are cloned and resold in the same country or could be shipped to other continents, with the thief interested in the black market resale value of the vehicle. In many cases vehicles are moved to illegal workshops and stripped down for their component parts, which can often be sold on for more than the car is worth.

In Southern England, Police have noted a rise in the theft of new Ford Fiesta models which are being broken for spare parts. There is strong demand for spare parts on such a popular model, giving thieves a large black market to exploit.

However, vehicle security has been steadily improving since the early introductions of immobilisers during the 1990s. Most modern cars are therefore getting difficult for thieves to steal without the appropriate tools and skill level.

As a result, the industry is beginning to see a rise in the theft of parts from a vehicle – but where the vehicle is not taken away. Previously, thieves would steal smaller parts such as audio systems, wheels or headlight units, but there are now cases of larger parts being stolen which costs much more for the customer to repair and replace.

Following times of financial hardship, there is extra market demand for cheap alternatives to expensive, dealership spare parts. This demand is sufficient to justify the significant risk, time and effort from thieves to strip large parts from vehicles. 

• Police in the USA recently arrested several members from a gang who were stealing tailgates from pick-up trucks. The tailgates could be removed in less a minute and sold on to scrap-yards for $200-300. In turn, vehicle owners would purchase an apparently legitimate replacement tailgate from a scrap-yard for $400 rather than for a new part from a dealership.
• Several vehicles have been found with instrument panels missing in recent months. Mercedes, Fiat and Honda models have been targeted in the UK, all with the entire instrument panel missing after thieves smashed the windows to gain entry.
• In Russia, BMW and Toyota models have been found in their parking spaces stripped of many large components, such as the bumpers, door panels and engine components.
• Catalytic convertor theft is also rising once again in both the UK and USA, following an initial peak ten years ago. In this case, thieves are removing this component for its material value due to the rising price of precious metals. Vehicles with high ground clearance such as 4x4 and LCV’s are particularly vulnerable. This has even prompted some commercial vehicle fleets to begin welding protection cages over their exhausts.

All of these theft cases show specific, targeted efforts from thieves with a clear intention of what they wish to steal, how they wish to steal it and how they can sell the parts in order to make profit. Activity from Organised Crime Groups is not just linked to the international theft and shipping of stolen cars using sophisticated methods, but frequently involves this type of theft using basic methods to steal and resell parts.

Thieves of all types have adapted to the market and old definitions such as ‘casual theft’ or ‘professional thieves’ are no longer valid.

SBD have released an exclusive whitepaper on Defining Vehicle Theft and Organised Crime. To register your interest in receiving the whitepaper, email your contact details to jappleby@sbd.co.uk