Crime & Safety

16 Airbags Stolen from Columbia Neighborhoods: Howard County Police

Police said the thefts happened in the overnight hours.

A series of airbag thefts was reported in Columbia this week, according to the Howard County Police Department.

In all, 16 vehicles were broken into and their airbags stolen during the overnight hours between Tuesday and Wednesday, police said.

The vehicles included Hondas, Nissans and an Acura, according to the report.

Four airbags were stolen in the 8800 block of Shining Oceans Way, between 10:30 p.m. Tuesday and 8 a.m. Wednesday, according to police.

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Six of the thefts occurred in the 9000 block of Watchlight Court, 6000 block of Majors Lane and 5900 block of Tamar Drive, between 11 p.m. Tuesday and 6 a.m. Wednesday.

Six airbags were stolen in the 4900, 5000 and 5600 blocks of Columbia Road and the 5600 block of April Journey Road, according to police, who said the thefts were between Tuesday and Wednesday.

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Two of the vehicles were unlocked, police said, and in 14 cases, the suspect(s) broke a window to get to the airbag.

In one instance, electronics were stolen in addition to the airbag, police said.

Police are investigating the possibility that the 16 incidents may be related.

Last month, 16 airbags were stolen in residential neighborhoods in Harford County by breaking the window to access the airbag.

Airbag theft is a growing crime trend, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, which reports an estimated 50,000 airbags are stolen each year, costing vehicle owners more than $50 million.

An airbag sells for about $1,000 from a car dealer but can go for between $50 and $200 on the black market, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau.


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