Thieves are targeting something else in car break-ins: Honda Accord airbags, police say
Medford police say they've seen a "rash of car break-ins" in the past few weeks.
While a stereo system or dashboard GPS have traditionally been the big-ticket items snatched during car break-ins, authorities say trends are showing another device is now in vogue for thieves: airbags.
Specifically those lifted from Honda Accords.
In Medford, police say they’ve seen “a rash of car break-ins that target the theft of ‘safety airbags'” in recent weeks, all incidents involving that specific make and model.
“The thieves usually break a window to get in, and they remove the ‘safety air bag’ from the car. (Driver’s side and/or passenger side),” Medford police Lt. Paul Covino wrote on social media. “We do not know how the targeted cars are chosen.”
The trend is hardly limited to Massachusetts. Authorities in New York City, Miami, and the Washington, D.C., area have reportedly all seen a boost in the number of airbag thefts lately.
While it’s unclear what exactly makes the Honda Accord safety devices appealing, thieves often sell the stolen parts on the black market.
Approximately 50,000 airbags are stolen annually, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau.
“A new airbag, which retails for approximately $1,000 from a car dealer, costs between $50 – $200 on the black market,” the NICB says. “Because of their portability, airbags can be easily removed and installed as ‘new’ by unscrupulous collision repair shops. These dishonest operators will then charge the vehicle owner or their insurer the full price for the replacement, thus committing insurance fraud.”
In Medford, the recent break-ins appear to have happened mostly overnight, according to Covino.
One incident was as recent as last Thursday morning, when the Honda Accord belonging to Gladys Robbins’s husband was broken into, its window smashed open, she told Boston 25 News.
She said it’s the second time in four years — the other incident involved another Honda Accord — that it’s happened to the couple, and now she is considering installing security measures.
“Maybe if we get a security system that will be a deterrent for them,” she told the news station.
Medford police are asking the public to be vigilant in watching for “strange cars or people that may be casing a car in your neighborhood,” Covino said.
Residents can report a crime in progress by calling 911 or 781-395-1212 if they have information about the crimes, officials said.
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