Howard County Police in Maryland discovered over 30 stolen airbags in the rear of a single vehicle, highlighting a growing trend in car theft.
Recent statistics from the National Insurance Crime Bureau indicate that approximately 50,000 airbags are stolen each year in cities like Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C., Detroit, and Baltimore. This amounts to $50 million in losses for both vehicle owners and their insurers.
Seth Hoffman of the Howard County Police Department explains that stealing airbags from a vehicle is a relatively simple process compared to catalytic converters.
“It is not unusual to come across hauls like this. They target neighborhoods with many vehicles, swiftly hitting as many cars as possible within minutes,” Hoffman stated.
The NICB estimates that stolen airbags can fetch anywhere from $50 to $200 on the black market. However, the replacement cost for drivers is much steeper, ranging from $1,500 to $6,000.
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“Victims have to deal with replacing airbags and windows, rendering their vehicles unusable. This negatively impacts the victims greatly,” he added.
Shady auto shops stand to make significant profits from these stolen airbags.
Hoffman suggests using an alarm system and a “steering wheel club” as preventative measures, especially for those who park on the street and own vehicles like Hondas and Toyotas, which are prime targets for theft.
Although overall crime rates are decreasing, vehicle thefts have been on the rise. In the last year, vehicle thefts rose by about 1% nationwide and have steadily increased since 2019, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau.
