A major police operation saw more than £2million worth of stolen vehicles recovered in a week-long national crackdown on vehicle theft across the UK.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council confirmed that the second Vehicle Crime Intensification Week saw 37 police forces across England and Wales work together to target “chop shops”, export hubs, and gangs linked to serious and organised crime.
Backed by £485,000 of Home Office funding, the operation uncovered one of the UK’s largest illegal car dismantling sites, alongside caches of drugs, weapons, and cash.
In total, 154 individuals were arrested for a range of crimes, including theft, fraud, conspiracy to steal, and serious organised offences.
In the West Midlands, officers uncovered what they described as an “Aladdin’s Cave” of stolen car parts.
During the operation, two men were arrested on suspicion of modern slavery after it was found that workers were being housed on site in poor conditions.
Meanwhile, in London, the Metropolitan Police discovered a warehouse filled with stolen vehicle parts worth more than £300,000 after stopping a van and finding a luxury car bumper in the back.
Investigators believed the offenders could be responsible for over £1million worth of car thefts across the capital.
Across the UK, police recovered 95 suspected stolen vehicles, including luxury cars, plant machinery, and motorcycles, with a combined value exceeding £2million (£2,046,250).
Officers also located 13 illegal premises used to dismantle stolen vehicles for parts that which would then be resold or exported.
The police operation uncovered more than £2million worth of stolen vehicles
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NATIONAL POLICE CHIEFS’ COUNCIL
One site contained a cannabis factory, with controlled drugs, weapons, and dozens of fake number plates seized.
These plates were believed to have been used to disguise stolen vehicles and evade detection.
Among the specialist tools recovered, the police said they found signal jammers and underground cable detectors, which are commonly used by thieves to disable trackers and bypass vehicle security systems.
Assistant Chief Constable Sarah Grahame, the NPCC’s national lead for vehicle crime, said the results proved what could be achieved when forces worked together.
Ms Grahame shared: “Operation Alliances was a fantastic example of the huge impact we could make when policing and partners worked closely together.”
The police targeted ‘chop shops’ across the UK
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WEST MIDLANDS POLICE
She added: “Vehicle crime seriously affected families and businesses who relied on their vehicles to earn a living.
“These arrests sent a clear message: we would find those responsible and bring them to justice.”
Meanwhile, Crime and Policing Minister Sarah Jones praised the officers involved, linking the success to new legislation aimed at banning electronic devices used to steal keyless cars.
She explained that vehicle theft leaves families stranded.
“As this operation showed, it was often tied to serious organised criminality, that’s why we boosted funding and strengthened powers to stamp it out,” Ms Jones stated.
Mark Kameen, who led the National Vehicle Crime Reduction Partnership, added that targeted funding had been crucial.
Keyless cars are more susceptible to thefts
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SOUTH YORKSHIRE POLICE“These results showed what was possible when the right support and investment were in place,” he said. “Police forces were empowered to take decisive action, and the impact was immense.”
AA President Edmund King also backed the campaign, stating that the operation would help reduce insurance costs and make roads safer.
He detailed how closing chop shops, “jailing those using signal jammers, and reuniting drivers with their vehicles made a real difference”.
“This operation showed why our members wanted to see more traffic police back on Britain’s streets,” he added.
Although vehicle crime fell by 12 per cent in 2024, with around 330,000 offences recorded, police said criminals were becoming more sophisticated, with a more targeted response needed.
