chop shop
Stolen car destination
A chop shop is an illegal operation where stolen vehicles are dismantled for parts.
The parts are sold separately, making the original vehicle harder to trace than if sold whole.
The term extends to any operation that breaks down stolen goods: Police raided a chop shop processing stolen electronics.
The "chop" refers to cutting vehicles apart.
Removing outer layers
- black marketIllicit trading system
- theft ringOrganized group committing burglaries
- fencingCombat with blunted blades
- organized crimeStructured illegal enterprise
clandestine · criminal enterprise · bust · raid · contraband · laundering · underground · scrapping
Recovering damaged goods
- used partsPre-owned mechanical components
- engineMachine producing motion
- transmissionSending of information
- doorsHinged passage barriers
fenders · bumpers · hoods · wheels · tires · catalytic converter · airbags · headlights
stripping
Removing outer layers
- black marketIllicit trading system
- theft ringOrganized group committing burglaries
- fencingCombat with blunted blades
organized crime · clandestine · criminal enterprise · bust · raid · contraband · laundering · underground · scrapping · disassembly
salvage
Recovering damaged goods
- used partsPre-owned mechanical components
- engineMachine producing motion
- transmissionSending of information
doors · fenders · bumpers · hoods · wheels · tires · catalytic converter · airbags · headlights · tailgates
- crimerobbery, accomplice, alibi, burglary, conspiracy
- theftstealing, larceny, steal, burglary, robbery
- auto crimescar theft, auto theft, carjacking, grand theft auto, stolen car
- criminal schemesconspiracy, collusion, racketeering, kickback scheme, assassination plot
- vice densbrothel, opium den, speakeasy, gambling den, crack house
- black marketblack market, illegal trade, smugglers, contraband, traffickers
chop shopauthorized dealer
Seller granted official permission
shop, chop, shopping, shopper, workshop, chopping, chopper, shopkeeper, chopped