Thieves have been stealing bonnets, bumpers and headlights from Vauxhall Corsa cars in Fife in recent weeks.
Police say they are conducting “extensive enquiries” into five incidents in the Dunfermline, Crossgates and Cowdenbeath areas.
They are probing whether it is a trend or being carried out by a gang, or even a single person.
Similar thefts from the same style of car have also been reported in Edinburgh and West Lothian but the incidents are not currently being linked.
A well-placed source said CCTV capturing one overnight theft in Fife shows the culprits started work to remove the car parts, left the scene, then returned hours later to finish the job.
We have spoken to Fife mechanics and others in the motor trade who have offered theories on why thieves have been targeting Vauxhall Corsas.
Second-hand demand
Mechanics told us the sheer popularity of Corsas and the need for repairs, coupled with other factors, such as a surging second-hand car market, could be driving the spate of thefts.
It has been widely reported in the likes of Financial Times that demand for used cars has been fired up by people saving more money during the pandemic and a shortage of new cars due to the crunch in the supply of computer chips used in car production.
Kelty-based garage boss Andrew Lamont said: “There are obviously a huge number of Corsas on the road so the chances of them being in accidents and needing parts to replace are obviously quite high.
“It’s obviously just supply and demand and everything is getting so expensive now since Covid.
“They (the car parts) will likely be stolen to order.”
Mr Lamont says the build quality of Corsas makes it easier to remove their front end parts compared to, for instance, a BMW which will have more screws and bolts.
One West Fife garage owner, who did not want to be named, said: “It’s common knowledge that the value of second-hand parts has escalated.
“Corsas are one of the most popular cars and a car more susceptible to damage”.
He believes the stolen parts will be sold online.
Brexit and war
Mr Lamont, along with other mechanics we spoke to, believes Brexit has also played a big role, delaying the supply of car parts from European factories.
He also highlighted the impact on car manufacturing of the war in Ukraine, saying it’s having more influence than many might think. He says one issue for him at the moment is getting Toyota clutches which are made there.
John McIntosh, owner of Brae Coachworks in Dunfermline, also points towards Brexit making parts harder to get and says Vauxhall parts come from Germany.
He reckons second-hand sales of all the stolen parts from each car could fetch several hundred pounds.
“People spend a lot of money buying these cars and stealing these parts off them is unbelievable.
“They (the thieves) are taking people’s cars apart at their front doors.
“Getting better alarm systems is one way to prevent it”.
Some mechanics also suggested the possibility of the stolen parts being exported to other countries to meet demand.
But one source with close links to the car export industry said he would be surprised if this was the case as overseas exports tend to be for high-end performance cars.
Stolen yards from front door
At the end of September, Cowdenbeath man Greig Allan woke up to find his Vauxhall Corsa D stripped of its front end in a small car park beside his house.
A passenger side window had been smashed by the culprits so they could flick the bonnet catch.
Garage owners say the thieves, depending on whether they know their way around a car and have brought tools such as an electric battery gun, could potentially remove the bonnet within minutes.
Mr Allan’s partner, Jody, told us they believe the theft happened some time between 1 and 6am.
Jody said they have had to spend £60 on a home camera so they can keep an eye on their vehicle and are waiting to hear back from insurers while they use a courtesy car.
The 33-year-old mum, a support worker who works with children with disabilities, said: “Greig had to take the day off work to sort out the insurance.
“It’s just a shame now I have to buy a camera to keep an eye on the car park.”
She said she had also read comments from others online the Corsa D is a common target for front end theft as the model – except the VXR – does not come with an alarm at the front as standard.
‘No security issues’
A Vauxhall spokesperson said: “The Corsa is the best-selling car in the UK and has been a huge sales success since it was launched here almost thirty years ago, so there are proportionally more on the road than other less popular models.
“There are no security or design issues with this model.
“These are acts of wanton vandalism – sadly, no matter the security measures in place, if a thief is determined enough they can steal parts from any vehicle.”
Police Scotland is asking anyone with information, including knowledge of anyone trying to sell suspicious vehicle parts online or in person, to call 101.
A spokesperson said: “At this time, we’d also urge motorists in Fife to be mindful of your security.
“Keep your vehicle locked and if you can park in a secure location, or one that is well-lit and covered by personal CCTV, do so.
“If you are a victim of a similar crime, report it to police.”
