Thieves Steal Airbags From More Than a Dozen Cars in Arlington

Thieves broke into and stole airbags from more than a dozen cars in Arlington Tuesday night, according to Arlington County Police.

Police were called at about 5:46 a.m. Tuesday to the 3000 block of S. Columbus Street in North Fairlington, on the west side of I-395, near Shirlington, where it was reported that multiple vehicles were broken into.

A thief or thieves popped the hoods of the cars and disabled the car alarms before they got to work lifting the airbags, according to NBC-4; they then broke into the cars by breaking the windows, according to comments posted on the Fairlington Facebook page.

There is no suspect(s) description and the investigation is ongoing.  

Airbag theft is a growing crime trend, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, or NCIB. An estimated 50,000 airbags are stolen each year, costing vehicle owners more than $50 million.

An airbag sells for about $1,000 from a car dealer but can go for between $50 and $200 on the black market, according to the NCIB.

Dishonest repair shops can install stolen airbags in a vehicle and then charge the owner or insurance company the full price for the replacement, the bureau reports.

You can find airbags for sale on eBay and craigslist for upwards of $800. Honda Civics and Acuras are popular targets.

A steering wheel lock may prevent theft of an airbag.

The National Insurance Crime Bureau suggests the following prevention tips to help avoid airbag fraud and theft:

•Use a reputable automobile collision repair shop that employs ASE (Automotive Service Excellence)-certified mechanics. 
•Inspect the invoice to ensure the repair shop purchased the airbag from a manufacturer, dealer or recycler. 
•If possible, inspect the airbag prior to installation. If new, it should be packaged in a sealed container from the manufacturer. 
•The trim cover over the steering column should be the same color as the remaining trim interior. If not, it is an indication that the original airbag has been replaced. 
•When you turn on your vehicle's ignition, a red SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) indicator should light up and flash in the instrument panel display, indicating the airbag system is activated. No SRS light indicates a problem with the airbag system that could result in no airbag activation.