Hyde Park residents are on alert after a string of car break-ins targeting Honda Civic sedans, with thieves smashing drivers' windows to rip out steering-wheel airbags. The thefts, reported in early January, have left owners staring at hefty repair bills while detectives work to track down surveillance footage. Neighbors are being urged to check doorbell and building cameras and to report anything that looks even vaguely suspicious to investigators.
Police say Civics repeatedly hit in January
Police say at least three incidents were reported in the neighborhood, and in each case offenders shattered a window and removed the steering-wheel airbag from a Honda Civic, according to FOX 32 Chicago. The station reports that one incident occurred on Jan. 5, with two more between Jan. 14 and Jan. 15 near the 5300 block of South Shore Drive and the 5100 block of South Dorchester Avenue. Detectives asked anyone with information to call Area One at 312-747-8380 or submit an anonymous tip at CPDTIP.com using reference number P26-1-003. The Chicago Police Department provided details for the alert to the station.
Why airbags are a hot target
Airbag thefts have been climbing in multiple cities because the modules are small, easy to move, and resellable, which means steady demand on the black market. The National Insurance Crime Bureau estimates that tens of thousands of airbags are stolen nationwide each year, roughly 50,000, according to reporting by MotorWeek. Officials say thieves can remove a steering-wheel airbag quickly once a window is smashed, and stolen modules sometimes end up at chop shops or listed on online marketplaces.
How to protect your car
The Chicago Police Department recommends locking vehicles, parking in well-lit areas, and preserving any surveillance footage that could help detectives, according to the department's vehicle-safety guidance. CPD also highlights local anti-theft programs, including occasional distribution of steering-wheel locks and catalytic-converter etching, that can reduce risk, per the Chicago Police Department. The National Insurance Crime Bureau advises car owners to use reputable repair shops and to be wary of shops or sellers offering unusually cheap replacement airbags, which can help fuel the theft cycle (NICB).
Anyone with information about the Hyde Park incidents should contact Area One detectives at 312-747-8380 or submit an anonymous tip at CPDTIP.com, reference P26-1-003, FOX 32 Chicago reports. Preserving time-stamped video or doorbell clips may be critical for investigators, police told the station. If you see a crime in progress, call 911 immediately.
