Spike in airbag thefts leaves Baychester residents on edge
“Within the last month, I had like 10 airbags replaced on Honda Accords and Honda CR-Vs. The airbag itself was $2,500 from the dealer,” Kajak said.
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A recent increase in airbag thefts is putting both wallets and peace of mind at risk for Baychester residents.
Local mechanics in the area say they’ve seen a sharp uptick in airbag replacements in recent months.
Raed Kajak, a local mechanic, says demand is surging.
“Within the last month, I had like 10 airbags replaced on Honda Accords and Honda CR-Vs. The airbag itself was $2,500 from the dealer,” Kajak said.
According to the NYPD, several airbag thefts were reported in the 47th Precinct on Oct. 3 alone. Surveillance footage from one incident shows a masked man popping a car lock, grabbing an item and quickly taking off, leaving victims like Andrea Outar to deal with the aftermath.
“They got in here, took the cylinder out, and then I walk in and find this,” said Outar, pointing to the damage inside her car.
Just five hours later and a few blocks away, another break-in occurred. This time, car owner Tiffany Clark lost both her dash cam and airbag- all within 15 minutes.
“I went to the dealer and honestly, it was almost $3,000 out of pocket to replace it,” Clark said.
The rise in thefts coincides with a broader trend - grand larceny is up nearly 34% in the past month, according to city data. That spike has residents increasingly anxious. “What if it happens to my car again? What if it happens to the people who just got theirs replaced?” Clark asked. “What is the ramification here?”
In response, 47th Precinct police tell News 12 that they’ve since increased patrols in the areas targeted by the recent thefts, and with the commanding officer alerted, will continue to investigate.
