The shortage of car parts could be to blame for the rise in vehicle thefts in some parts of the UK, according to a senior police officer.
Thieves are said to be stealing requested cars and stripping them in hours, so they can sell the components.
Drivers are warned not to assume that their vehicles are safe, even if they are left for only a few minutes, because criminals can block a key lock signal.
The pandemic caused the closure of factories that produce car computer chips, as well as other common parts of vehicles, and supply is still lagging behind. As a result, UK car production has fallen by more than 40%.
West Midlands Police Superintendent Jim Munro said: “What we have seen during the pandemic is that there are some problems with the supply of parts coming to the engine industry and delays in construction.
“What we’ve seen in the West Midlands is also what we’ve seen throughout the piece nationally: there’s a desire for certain parts of vehicles, and that’s fueling the theft of motor vehicle offenses.”
He said that sometimes stolen cars are taken to industrial buildings – “cutting shops”, as they are known – and dismantled “in a matter of hours”, with the parts sold “at quite high prices”. .
Munro said the most common car models tend to be the most objective.
Revealed: The areas with the most vehicle thefts
During the year to March 7, 2022, 34 police forces recorded 88,915 vehicle thefts, which provided figures to the PA news agency.
It suggests an average of 244 thefts per day.
Six of the forces saw an increase over the same period two years ago. Other areas recorded a drop.
South Yorkshire had 4,003 thefts, more than 3,135 (up 28%); City of London 45: more than 36 (25%); West Midlands 10,812: more than 9,091 (19%); Surrey 1,313, more than 1,173 (12%); Merseyside 2,471, more than 2,366 (4%); and Greater Manchester 7,737, more than 7,661 (1%).
A special West Midlands police operation arrested more than 2,000 suspects and recovered 1,000 cars stolen last year. Some “workshops” were also closed.
Munro warned drivers to be vigilant.
“They are [thieves] using devices to block signals where people are trying to block their cars with their fobs, ”he said.
“When locking your vehicle, make sure the vehicle is locked, that the signal is not blocking, regardless of how long you leave the vehicle.
“Whether it’s just to get into the store, make sure your car is always safe.”