Drivers with driveway will be forced to 'install gate or security post'

Drivers and motorists have been warned over a prime "hot spot" for UK car thefts. Police forces and local authorities are cracking down on chop shops, with 50 illegal chop shops busted amid a clampdown on the illicit activities.

The police have seen a 72 per cent increase in the number of chop shops appearing in the UK compared to the previous year. The police said they have made 80 arrests in relation to the chop shop sites, they have revealed.

Cars fitted with Tracker tech are immune from having the signal blocked and often lead the police directly to the chop shops where stolen cars fitted with its devices are being hidden, motorists and road users have been advised.

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Clive Wain, head of police liaison at Tracker warned the motoring industry is “struggling to supply parts” for vehicles of all ages and values. "We recovered vehicles ranging for a £150,000 Range Rover Autobiography, all the way down to a £1,000 Audi A3,” he said.

He added: “Had we not intercepted these vehicles, their parts would have been sold very lucratively on the black market.” Essex continues to be the UK’s chop shop “prime hot spot”, he also warned. He urged motorists to park in well-lit areas.

They should also park in a safe place near or inside a home, if they can. Visible CCTV, dashcams and video doorbells are also a must, drivers have been told, especially if they have a driveway where they park their motor up overnight.

Drivers can also mull over fitting a security post or a substantial gate on the driveway which can offer a physical barrier for the car. “With vehicle thefts continuing to rise, the need to ramp up vehicle security has never been more important,” he urged motorists up and down the country.