What did the operation find?
Operation Alliances is a national crackdown on vehicle crime, led by the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC), coordinated by Opal, policing's intelligence unit for organised acquisitive crime, and funded by the Home Office. This was its third round.
| Result | Number |
|---|---|
| Arrests | 286 |
| Stolen vehicles recovered | 319 (worth over £2.6m) |
| Chop shops dismantled | 8 (18 people arrested in connection) |
| Vehicle parts recovered | Over 300 (worth over £100,000) |
| Warrants executed | Over 100 |
| Organised crime groups disrupted | 20 |
| Vehicles checked at ports | 1,090 (13 seized) |
A chop shop is a garage where stolen cars are broken up so the parts can be sold. Officers also seized cloned plates, licence plate printers, relay devices and key programmers used to steal keyless cars, signal jammers, and lock-picking kit. Among the vehicles recovered was a stolen excavator about to be exported.
Assistant Chief Constable Sarah Grahame, the NPCC's lead for vehicle crime, said: "Vehicle crime is not a low-level crime with minimal consequences."
5 checks so you don't buy a stolen car
A stolen car can be sold on with the identity of a legitimate one, using cloned plates and forged documents. If you buy one, the police can take it back and you can lose your money. GOV.UK recommends these checks:
- Check the details match DVLA's records. Get the registration, make, model and MOT test number from the seller before you go, and check them online.
- Check the MOT history. Make sure the make, model, colour and mileage match what you are told. Our free MOT history check shows every test and flags mileage that goes down.
- Check the V5C logbook. It should have a "DVL" watermark, and its serial number should not be in the stolen ranges GOV.UK lists. If it is, the V5C may be stolen: call the police when it is safe to do so. Our V5C logbook guide explains what to look for.
- Match the VIN and engine number on the car with the logbook. A VIN that has been tampered with, or differs between places on the car, is a serious warning sign.
- Check for safety recalls and outstanding issues. Use our recall check, and consider a paid history check, which covers outstanding finance, write-offs and stolen markers.
Be wary of a price that is well below the market rate, a seller who will only meet away from their home address, or one who wants cash or a bank transfer in a hurry. Our used car checklist covers the full process.
More on used-car fraud
This is the third part of our used-car safety series. Read about number plate cloning reaching a record high, and why car clocking is being added to the list of banned practices.
Questions drivers ask
What was Operation Alliances?
A week-long national police operation against vehicle crime, led by the National Police Chiefs' Council. Results published on 15 October 2026 included 286 arrests, 319 stolen vehicles recovered and eight chop shops dismantled.
What is a chop shop?
A place where stolen vehicles are broken up so their parts can be sold.
How can I check a car is not stolen?
Check the details match DVLA's records, check the MOT history, check the V5C watermark and serial number, match the VIN with the logbook, and consider a paid history check that covers stolen markers.
What happens if I buy a stolen car?
The police can recover the car and return it to its owner, and you may lose the money you paid.
Sources
- NPCC: Hundreds arrested, chop shops uncovered and vehicles worth millions seized (15 October 2026)
- GOV.UK: Check a used vehicle you're buying
Facts checked against the sources above on 26 October 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
