Chicago police are warning Hyde Park and East Hyde Park residents after at least three Honda Civics were broken into and stripped of their airbags in recent weeks, part of a nationwide surge in thefts driven by a lucrative black market for the safety devices.
The local thefts occurred between January 5 and January 15 in the 5100 and 5300 blocks of South Dorchester Avenue and South Shore Drive. In each case, thieves broke vehicle windows and removed steering wheel airbags from Honda Civics, according to the alert.
Airbag theft, particularly from Honda vehicles, has surged across many states, with thieves able to remove the devices in as little as 20 seconds and sell them on the black market for hundreds of dollars, according to law enforcement reports and auto body shops. Honda’s popularity makes the brand a consistent target, with parts in higher demand for both legitimate and illegal purposes.
The thefts are driven by the significant price gap between legitimate and illicit airbags, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. The agency reports that approximately 50,000 airbags are stolen annually nationwide. Factory replacement airbags typically cost around $1,000, while black market alternatives sell for a fraction of that price.
A quick search of Facebook Marketplace on Sunday morning found dozens of Honda airbags being offered for sale in Chicagoland, with prices ranging from $120 to $400 apiece. It is impossible to know if the airbags being offered for sale there are legitimate or stolen.
The surge in thefts is causing another problem. A backlog in orders for legitimate parts is causing lengthy delays for crime victims who need to get their stolen airbags replaced. The delays, often stretching into weeks or months, have pushed some frustrated owners to turn to the same black market economy that caused them to lose their airbag in the first place.
Another unsavory twist: The National Insurance Crime Bureau says some unscrupulous auto shops are installing stolen black market airbags while billing insurance companies factory replacement prices.
How can you protect your airbag? Experts say you can try parking in a well-lit area and using a club-style steering wheel lock, but those options offer limited protection at best.
Original reporting you’ll see nowhere else, paid for by our readers. Click here to support our work.
