Criminals are stripping cars for parts at record rates – and it’s not just wheels and catalytic converters anymore. A leading insurer has revealed that thefts of car parking sensors alone have shot up by 300% in the past year.
Admiral Insurance says it handled 142 claims for stolen parking sensors in the last 12 months – up from just 36 the year before. Add to that 104 claims for stolen steering wheels and airbags, and it’s clear that car cannibalism is on the rise.
“Parking sensors are easy to get at and sell quickly,” said Alex Wyard from Allianz Insurance. “We’re seeing a big rise in all types of car parts theft, from wing mirrors to emblems. Thieves can make quick cash by flogging them online.”
Some parts are worth serious money. A new airbag can cost up to £1,200, but stolen ones are often sold for a fraction of the price – no questions asked.
Volkswagen Golf GTI owner Jeremy Merckel knows the pain all too well. In March, he was woken by a neighbour to find the entire front end of his car had been stolen – headlights, grille, bumper, bonnet, the lot.
“I was fuming,” he said. “A neighbour’s doorbell cam caught one guy walking off with the bumper above his head like it was no big deal. It took them maybe three minutes.”
To make it worse, it wasn’t even the first time. His Golf had been stripped of its original bumper two years earlier.
“The car wasn’t broken into. They just took what they wanted and left. It was a clean job – weirdly impressive, if it wasn’t my car.”
Jeremy’s insurer, Ageas UK, initially thought they’d have to write off the 2019 Golf, but eventually paid for the repairs. “It was back on the road two weeks later – new bumper, grille, and lights, but they couldn’t find a new bonnet, so I’ve got a used one. My premium doubled last time, so I’m bracing for another hike.”
Right now, the West Midlands is one of the worst-hit areas for what’s being dubbed ‘car cannibalism’ – where thieves strip parts off cars in minutes. Police say it’s not usually a professional gang behind it – just opportunists responding to online posts asking for specific parts.
Mark Silvester from West Midlands Police said: “Unlike full-on car theft, parts theft is usually someone looking to make a quick buck. They’ll see a post asking for a part, steal it, and sell it. Drivers can help stop it by avoiding dodgy sellers and only buying recycled parts from verified platforms like eBay’s Certified Recycled scheme.”
