chop-shop
Stolen car destination
A chop-shop is a place where stolen vehicles are dismantled so their parts can be sold separately or used to rebuild other cars.
The operation makes the original vehicle untraceable: Police raided a chop-shop in an industrial park and found parts from dozens of stolen cars.
The term sometimes extends metaphorically to any operation that breaks things down for profit.
Taken unlawfully
- theftUnlawful taking of property
- dismantleSeparate into parts
- stripNarrow elongated piece
- criminalPerson who breaks laws
underground · black market · fence · VIN · laundering · racket · organized crime · bust
Individual elements of whole
- dismantleSeparate into parts
- wreckageDestroyed remains of something
- spare partsReserve pieces for repairs
- usedAlready been employed
recycled · aftermarket · engines · transmissions · bodywork · fenders · bumpers · headlights
stolen
Taken unlawfully
criminal · underground · black market · fence · VIN · laundering · racket · organized crime · bust · raid
parts
Individual elements of whole
- dismantleSeparate into parts
- wreckageDestroyed remains of something
- spare partsReserve pieces for repairs
used · recycled · aftermarket · engines · transmissions · bodywork · fenders · bumpers · headlights · wheels