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Police report spike in Honda airbag thefts

Police report spike in Honda airbag thefts

The stolen airbags are said to be resold on eBay or to unscrupulous repair shops.

Police in some cities have reportedly warned residents of an increase in airbag thefts from Honda and Acura vehicles.

Victims are said to face repair bills worth thousands of dollars after finding their vehicle's door or window damaged and the steering wheel missing its valuable airbag, according to a USA Today report.

The National Insurance Crime Bureau suggests around 50,000 airbags are stolen each year. Thieves are said to focus solely on the driver's airbag, which can cost more than $1,000 as a new part from the dealer and reportedly fetches $200 to $300 on eBay. The NICB also says stolen components will end up at repair shops and installed as new parts, sometimes involving a form of insurance fraud if the shop bills the insurance company or vehicle owner the full price of a new airbag.

The latest report found that airbag thefts more than quadrupled in Florida's Miami-Dade County from 2016 to 2017. In Northern Virginia, thieves managed to steal 37 airbags from one neighborhood in the same night.

Police speculate Honda models are being targeted due to their popularity, with no apparent connection to the Takata airbag recalls that have focused on older vehicles.