Little Italy residents woke up Sunday to the sound of crunching glass underfoot and the sight of gutted steering wheels, after thieves swept through the neighborhood and hit more than a dozen Hondas in a fast, targeted airbag raid.
The damage was hard to miss: splintered safety glass piled at curbs, dashboards torn open, and stunned drivers trying to figure out how they were getting to work on Monday. Among them were a UIC student and a rideshare driver who said the break-ins have left them sidelined and staring at pricey repairs.
What Happened Overnight
More than a dozen Hondas were broken into early Sunday, with two hits reported near Sheridan Park and two on Laflin Street. Police confirmed that reports were filed in at least four of the break-ins, according to FOX 32 Chicago.
A homeowner told reporters they recorded a man peering into a Honda SUV around 6:30 a.m., before he and a partner moved on to the next target. The crew moved quickly, smashing windows, ripping out steering wheels and airbags, and leaving a trail of broken glass and mangled dashboards behind.
Neighbors Left Cleaning Up The Glass
Alok Shah, a UIC senior who lives across from the park, told FOX 32 Chicago he discovered the damage just as he was about to move his car.
"I was going to move it, but I noticed the glass was broken. Somebody stole the airbag. Took the whole thing out," Shah said, summing up the ugly surprise waiting outside his front door.
Another victim, rideshare driver Mehry Mandani, was visiting from DeKalb when she found her Honda with a smashed window and the steering wheel stripped. The hit has temporarily knocked her out of work, since her car is her livelihood.
Part Of A Citywide Airbag Crime Wave
The Little Italy spree is not a one-off. It is part of a wider pattern of airbag thefts hitting Chicago this spring, with crews targeting late-model Hondas on the North, Northwest, and South sides, as the West Side airbag bandits have already shown.
CBS Chicago has documented similar strikes in Lakeview and other neighborhoods, with police community alerts urging residents to check any surveillance footage. Detectives say the crews often operate in a tight predawn window, and a full smash-and-grab can be over in less than a minute.
Why Thieves Love Honda Airbags
Investigators say airbags are a hot item because they come out fast, sell quickly on illicit markets, and are expensive to replace through legitimate channels. That combination makes a stripped steering wheel a jackpot for thieves and a financial gut punch for owners.
Chicago Sun-Times reporting has highlighted long waits for repairs and eye-watering bills, with some owners facing costs in the thousands after an airbag is taken. That price gap helps explain why crews keep coming back to the same makes and models. Experts also warn buyers to steer clear of suspiciously cheap replacement airbags that might be stolen or counterfeit.
What Drivers Can Do Right Now
Owners of late-model Hondas are being urged to tighten up their parking habits and documentation. That starts with the basics: park in well-lit areas when possible and save any doorbell or security camera footage if something happens.
Visible steering wheel locks can also make a quick grab more of a hassle, which is often enough to send thieves looking elsewhere. For anyone who does end up needing a new airbag, experts recommend using ASE-certified shops for replacement to avoid counterfeit or stolen parts, per CBS Chicago. City reporting has also urged victims to keep any video they have and share it with investigators.
If you walk out to find your window shattered and your steering wheel stripped, get a police report on file as soon as you can, then contact your insurer to go over coverage and repair options. It will not make the glass disappear, but it is the fastest way to get your Honda back on the road.
