Car owners across Chicago have spent months waking up to smashed windows and gutted steering wheels, part of a citywide airbag theft spree that police say began in late December and has shown no signs of stopping. CPD has been tracking several distinct groups of thieves, with investigators believing one crew alone is responsible for over 100 thefts.
On Monday morning, a Humboldt Park resident looked out their front window to see one of those crews actively stealing airbags from a car in front of their home in broad daylight. And one of the thieves was openly carrying a firearm. You’ll see it in the video we’re about to show you. Another reader, this one in Wicker Park, said they saw several cars broken into on a single block on Sunday morning, all with their airbags missing.
Police say the crews are initially targeting 2016 to 2021 Honda Civics, but they’ve been branching out to include a wider array, including some Acuras and Hyundais, according to recent CPD alerts. The thefts are being driven by a lucrative black market fueled by a genuine parts shortage. Stolen airbags are often resold to unscrupulous auto shops or directly to unsuspecting consumers, and replacing a stolen airbag can cost up to $4,000. One Chicago man told the Sun-Times his total repair bill came to $3,300 after his 2018 Honda Civic was hit in March.
Monday’s theft in Humboldt Park was caught on video, and it’s a feast for the eyes. As birds chirp and the sun prepares to rise on Memorial Day, a stolen 2024 Honda SUV sits double-parked on the street with its passenger and driver’s doors open. You hear mechanical noises but don’t see where they’re coming from. You might catch a glimpse of the man standing outside the passenger door with the gun in his hand. And that’s when there’s a surprise. We don’t want to ruin it for you. Watch:
Looks like that car owner will be buying a new airbag and a new sunroof, too. They must be thrilled.
There’s no word on whether the three-man team seen in the video is also responsible for the thefts in Wicker Park this weekend. Our reader there said they saw cars with airbags missing all along Bosworth Avenue between Division Street and North Avenue.
Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36th) introduced an ordinance this month that would require auto repair shops to dispose of used airbags rather than re-use them. It also prohibits the purchase of airbags from individuals — unless the airbag is installed in a vehicle, of course.
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