POLICE are using intelligence and tip-offs to crack down on stolen car “chop shops” where high value vehicles are being dismantled and sold for parts.

Yesterday, Essex Chief Constable BJ Harrington revealed there had been an increase in vehicle crime across the country, but insisted his officers are doing all they can to recover stolen cars.

The force’s stolen vehicle intelligence unit recovered 626 stolen vehicles and parts in 2022, a 30 per cent increase on 2021.

The vehicles and parts seized were worth £14million in total.

A string of chop shops - industrial units where stolen cars are taken to be dismantled and sold for parts - have been uncovered in south Essex over the last year, including in Rayleigh and Tilbury.

Mr Harrington said: “The number of households with three cars has increased.

“Cars are important to Essex, they are often the second most important thing people buy here.

“We are doing lots of work around vehicle crime and we do recognise there has been an increase in vehicle crime in Essex. But physically serious crimes are crimes we have to prioritise.

“We are using intelligence and raiding chop shops, to seize stolen cars.

“The message to the public is: ‘Please keep reporting the matters to us. I can’t promise you will get an emergency, blue light response as unfortunately that would be unrealistic, but we will look into it’.”

In January, officers discovered a stolen Mercedes during a raid at a Tilbury chop shop. The officers also found a number of remains from other stolen cars at the site.

In December, officers uncovered a chop shop alongside a unit for growing cannabis in Rayleigh.

Dan Nelson, Tory shadow cabinet member for community safety said: "I am surprised about the £14million figure for the parts recovered from the vehicles.

"This shows how big the criminal empire is but I am very pleased to see and hear how seriously police are taking this matter.

"It clearly is a big issue. The reason why it's so important police deal with this is that, a stolen vehicle is so much more than just an asset.

"It is taken away someone's livelihood, especially if its a driver or a community nurse or similar.

"It also takes away the sense of freedom and it is a very deeply personal crime. I am glad to see the efforts by police to end this issue."