Chicago is experiencing a new crime trend as thieves target Honda vehicles to steal airbags. This surge in airbag thefts has prompted the Chicago Police Department to issue its fifth community alert in recent weeks, warning residents about the growing problem.
This criminal activity is reminiscent of the “Kia Boys” who exploited design flaws to steal Kia and Hyundai vehicles during the pandemic. While those thefts have slowed down due to fixes implemented by the automakers, airbag thefts from Honda vehicles have been on the rise.
Thieves are breaking into Honda vehicles, particularly Honda Civics, to steal the driver-side airbags, which can then be resold online for hundreds of dollars. The thefts have been reported in various neighborhoods across the city, with the North Side lakefront areas being particularly hard hit.
One crew on the West Side has been targeting Hondas manufactured between 2016 and 2021. In one incident, a woman caught a thief inside her Honda after the vehicle alarm went off during the theft. The thieves have been active in several locations across the city, including the 5000 block of West Ohio Street, the 600 block of North Avers Avenue, and other areas.
The Chicago Police Department described the thieves as one or two Black men wearing black clothing and surgical masks. They have urged Honda owners to use steering wheel locks to cover the airbag area as a deterrent to potential thieves.
Another crew targeted late-model Hondas parked along the lakefront, with incidents reported on North Recreation Drive and North Marine Drive. This crew is believed to have been driving a red Ford F-150 and a black GMC pickup truck with stolen dealer plates.
The surge in airbag thefts is part of a national trend, with the National Insurance Crime Bureau estimating that around 50,000 airbags are stolen annually in the United States. The high demand for replacement parts, combined with the price differential between factory replacements and stolen airbags on the black market, has fueled this criminal activity.
Victims of airbag thefts face numerous challenges, including long wait times for legitimate replacement airbags and the risk of unknowingly having stolen airbags installed by dishonest repair shops. The National Insurance Crime Bureau has warned about the dangers of using improperly sourced airbags, as they may compromise the safety of the vehicle.
As the authorities work to address this growing issue, Honda owners are advised to take precautions to protect their vehicles from potential thefts. It is essential to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement to help combat this crime trend.
