Chicago Airbag Thefts Hit 2,073 in 5 Months as Black Market Drives Surge
Updated
Updated · Chicago Tribune · Jun 11
Chicago Airbag Thefts Hit 2,073 in 5 Months as Black Market Drives Surge
1 articles · Updated · Chicago Tribune · Jun 11
Summary
2,073 airbags were stolen or damaged in Chicago in the first five months of 2026, versus 147 across all of 2023, 2024 and 2025 combined.
Honda owners face especially high risk because the vehicles are common and their airbags are reportedly easier to remove, while repairs can cost victims thousands and leave cars unusable for weeks.
Chicago police are reportedly setting up local units to target theft crews, but the crimes happen quickly and often move block by block before officers can intervene.
A proposal from Ald. Gilbert Villegas would require detailed records and impose steep fines on repair shops, recyclers, pawn shops and secondhand dealers handling undocumented airbags.
The surge is raising broader concerns about lost mobility for lower-income drivers and likely higher auto-insurance premiums if theft claims keep climbing.