Chicago police have arrested a 26-year-old man in connection with a string of airbag thefts on the Near West Side and in the West Loop, marking only the second known arrest tied to a theft surge that has left more than 2,000 car owners without airbags so far this year.
Ricardo Bryant was taken into custody Thursday afternoon in the 2800 block of West Flournoy Street after CPD’s Auto Crimes Task Force determined he was responsible for a series of recent thefts in the area, police said. He faces four counts of burglary and one count of possessing burglary tools. Police also said he had two outstanding warrants at the time of his arrest.
According to CPD, Bryant is accused of stealing airbags from vehicles in the 1600 block of West Warren Boulevard on June 19 and 20; the 1700 block of West Washington Boulevard on those same dates; and the 900 block of West Jackson Boulevard on June 20. Details about how investigators zeroed in on Bryant are expected to emerge in the coming days. He is only the second person known to be charged with stealing airbags in Chicago. The other individual was involved in a less-typical operation that raided a used car lot in Little Village to target a mass of vehicles in March, but CPD did not publicize his arrest.
Chicago has not experienced a theft trend quite like the airbag epidemic since the “Kia Boys” exploited design flaws to steal tens of thousands of Kia and Hyundai vehicles during the pandemic. While those thefts have slowed following manufacturer security updates, airbag thefts have rapidly filled the void.
The mechanics of the crime are straightforward and lucrative. Thieves target Hondas in particular because the driver-side airbag is relatively easy to remove. A factory replacement airbag typically costs around $1,000, but stolen ones are often resold for a fraction of that price. A review of Facebook Marketplace listings in the Chicago area shows airbags advertised for between $120 and $400 apiece.
The surge mirrors a nationwide problem. The National Insurance Crime Bureau estimates about 50,000 airbags are stolen across the country each year, fueled by shortages of replacement parts and the high cost of factory components. An off-the-shelf airbag typically costs about $1,000, according to the bureau. But stolen airbags are commonly advertised online for $120 to $400. A review of Facebook Marketplace listings in the Chicago area shows a wide array of airbags offered within that price range.
For victims, the theft often causes far more damage than the stolen item’s value. Replacing a stolen airbag and repairing the damaged steering wheel and dashboard can cost thousands of dollars. One Chicago man told the Chicago Sun-Times he paid $3,300 to repair his 2018 Honda Civic after thieves stole its airbag in March.
The National Insurance Crime Bureau has also warned that some dishonest repair shops install stolen airbags while billing customers for factory replacement parts, creating potential safety risks if the airbags are counterfeit, damaged, or improperly handled.
The theft crews have become increasingly brazen. Last month, a Humboldt Park resident looked out a front window and recorded thieves stripping airbags from a vehicle in broad daylight. One of the suspects openly carried a handgun while another worked inside the car. CWB Chicago published the video, which we’re sharing again below, that showed the crew using a stolen 2024 Honda SUV to transport themselves during the thefts.
Last month, Ald. Gilbert Villegas, 36th Ward, introduced an ordinance that would require auto repair shops to dispose of used airbags instead of reusing them. The proposal would also prohibit repair shops from purchasing airbags from private individuals unless the airbags are still installed in a vehicle.
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