Vehicle Airbag Thefts Cropping Up In Laurel

LAUREL, MD — Hondas seem to be a popular target of thieves scouring neighborhoods in the thick of the night seeking airbags to swipe. Last week, airbags were stolen out of 23 Hondas in North Laurel neighborhoods near Interstate 95. In January, 10 Honda vehicles were hit in one night and had their airbags stolen.

It's not only bad enough that the airbags are stolen, but the thieves are significantly damaging the vehicles in the process. They smash windows, rip off door handles and pry the dashboards and steering wheel covers off just to get to the airbags. The airbags then are sold to unlicensed repair shops who install them in other cars to be resold.

Josh Vilchis had his vehicle broken into in January. His Honda was parked at Brookmill Condominiums in Laurel.

"Only the driver's airbag was stolen. Apparently those airbags can be resold for close to $1,000," Vilchis told Patch.

Howard County Police Department spokesperson Seth Hoffman told WBAL that the airbags can be stolen in three to five minutes, allowing thieves to move quickly from car to car. Sgt. Jacklyn Davis, spokesperson for the Anne Arundel County Police Department, told Patch that 10 vehicles hit in one night is "rare but not unheard of."

"We get these multiple times a day on most days ... We constantly remind people to lock their doors and remove valuables. People going for catalytic converters or air bags are looking for specific model cars at the time, so unfortunately, there's not much an owner can do to prevent that. Park in a garage if you have one or a backyard. Invest in good outdoor security cameras and lights, but that's about it. It stinks! If criminals want something bad enough, not much is going to stop them," said Davis.