Stealing airbags

mustang68

my car was broken into last night (92 mazda), not worth anything and they bent the door frame, breaking the glass, didn't take anything, didn't try to hot wire the car. What they did do was pull off the horn button in the centre of the steering wheel, friend suggested that they were trying to steal the airbag (don't have one), could this be true, would it be worth their while?

Thnaks

Bluetonic

Possible alright, it's something which is relatively new.

Family cars targeted at rail stations as thieves hit airbags
ADVERTISEMENT
Click here

Edel

Kennedy

CAR thieves across the country are targeting family cars and stealing their airbags.

Gardai have confirmed to the Irish Independent that the bizarre trend began several months ago, with models such as Ford and Volkswagen proving particularly popular.

One victim, whose airbags were stolen on Monday, said the thieves ignored her CD player and 30 CDs, which were in full view, and took only the airbags. She now has to pay more than €2,000 to have them replaced in her 2001 Volkswagen.

Initial indications are that regional train stations are a favourite location for the thieves. Commuters park their cars in these quiet areas before getting the train to work in Dublin, giving the thieves plenty of time to carry out their crimes.

Portlaoise, Portarlington, Drogheda, Naas, Maynooth and Donabate have all been hit, but gardai stressed that there have only been a handful of incidents throughout the country.

Inspector Liam Delaney of Portlaoise said the problem began a few months ago and there have been four reported incidents at the local train station as well as a number of incidents in Portarlington.

"It's a new phenomenon for us," he said. "They have all the hallmarks of being stolen to order.

"It's not an isolated incident. There have been a few cars targeted, so it would seem that it is not just one person breaking into one vehicle."

One victim, whose car was targeted on Monday at Portlaoise, said that on the same day another motorist reported that her '05 Ford Mondeo had also been broken into.

The thieves smash the side window of the car to gain entry before removing the airbag intact in its canister.

Improved safety in cars means that the airbags inflate more easily than before. While this is good for road safety, it is harder on motorists' pockets as airbags can cost more than €600 to replace if they have been activated or stolen.

Depending on the make and model of the vehicle the cost of a new airbag begins at around €350, while replacing the control unit, which activates the safety device, costs upwards of €250. These costs apply for both airbags while labour costs push the bill even higher.

A spokesman for Iarnrod Eireann confirmed that they have been alerted to the issue.

He said that the company was aware of some 'isolated incidents' which have been reported in Donabate.

"We are currently working to deal with it," he said

seamus

I very much doubt that there's any kind of black market in stolen airbags/gas canisters. Given the age of the car, I'd say that it was little scumbags looking for something to joyride and wreck, and they probably got disturbed before they could hotwire it.

Edit: I stand corrected.

smash

I have heard of cars having the airbags removed so there's room to store drugs when they're being smuggled but obviously it's not that because it's your car.... Dunno why a scumbag would want an airbag though

Rew

Friend of mine owns a Ford dealership and theives broke in and did a small fortune in damage to brand new cars, all they took was the air bags but made **** of the cars in the process.

saobh_ie

Sounds like an extremly dangerous way to make a few quid, what if they accidently go off? I presume your average skanger wouldn't be following all of the carefully layed out instructions in a dealer manual.

gyppo

This happened to a girls car parked in the car park at work here (athlone) a few months ago. 02 VW Golf, dash and steering wheel cut to shreds, and airbags gone. This happened at 12 o Clock in the day:eek:

Before this I would have thought the same as Seamus, but now I'm not so sure. I would also believe that the scumbags responsible were stealing to order, as there were about 300 other cars to choose from, yet the one they picked on was parked in a very prominent spot.

subway

could be part of a scam involving "cloning" of regular cars with written off cars.
i guess its hard to get a replacement airbag for a written off car

griffdaddy

Sorry to drag up an old thread but this is still going on. 2 Vw golfs in my area had their airbags nicked last night. Tried to force the lock first, then smashed the driver's window and pried open the steering wheel to pull out the bag. No doubt being stolen to order.

neilthefunkeone

From the examiner a while ago..

GARDAÍ believe a highly professional gang may be exporting airbags stolen from expensive 5-series BMWs.

http://www.examiner.ie/ireland/gardai-suspect-export-gang-in-theft-of-bmw-airbags-128130.html

I def seems to be happening..

griffdaddy

Just heard of a third one being robbed on the same road. If you have a Golf around the Dublin 6W/14/16/22 area it's best to keep an eye on it over the next few days, by all accounts these scumbags usually grab a fair few around the same period/area.

subway

subway wrote: »

i guess its hard to get a replacement airbag for a written off car

Not really.

VinnyTGM

RoverJames wrote: »

Not really.

Not difficult but expensive

I had an airbag stolen on a newish 5 series, replacement was around 800 euro (new).

seamus

The main problem is the expense. They do serious damage to an older car to get the airbag and the insurance company writes the car off and gives you a cheque for €2k. Of course, there's no way you can replace your car with one in the same good condition for that measly €2k.

greenermetals

We operate a recycling yard and part of the depollution process is blowing the airbags. Whoever is stealing these better watch out. When they are blown there has to be a 10 metre exclusion zone around them. They are explosive charges and have caused serious accidents in recyling yards around the world. We get plenty of people contacting us for parts, ( we don't sell any)but never for airbags. My understanding is that they are tied into the brain of the car and as such airbags have to match up exactly with the type of car. Whoever is doing this must know exactly what they're looking for otherwise airbags can be useless.

MarkR

Ah sure, they're marvelous fun.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3c5gLUm9Rc

Big Nasty

They've been stealing airbags since the 90's - it's nothing new but they have a tendency to go off in your face if you don't know what you're doing. First thing to come out of a car in scrapyards I hear!

Midnight_EG

greenermetals wrote: »

We operate a recycling yard and part of the depollution process is blowing the airbags. Whoever is stealing these better watch out. When they are blown there has to be a 10 metre exclusion zone around them. They are explosive charges and have caused serious accidents in recyling yards around the world. We get plenty of people contacting us for parts, ( we don't sell any)but never for airbags. My understanding is that they are tied into the brain of the car and as such airbags have to match up exactly with the type of car. Whoever is doing this must know exactly what they're looking for otherwise airbags can be useless.

That can't be right considering the airbag is a matter of inches away from your face in the car...?

greenermetals

That's the scary thing, due to the noise and risk noone is allowed within 10 metres when they are blown. I suppose the risk of your head hitting the steering wheel is greater than having airbags, but there are plenty of burn injuries etc from airbags every year. It's in the idis guidelines that 10 m at least. They are blown using a device plugged into car brain and it's detonated remotely. Airbags aren't taken out they're blown.

Guy:Incognito

I know the OP is 4 years old but surely if they (the thieves) are any way competant in what they are doing they should be able to spot , most likely without even breaking in to the car, that it doesnt have an aibag.

Ghost Train

Stekelly wrote: »

I know the OP is 4 years old but surely if they (the thieves) are any way competant in what they are doing they should be able to spot , most likely without even breaking in to the car, that it doesnt have an aibag.

it might have been dark

VinnyTGM

Ghost Train wrote: »

it might have been dark

Torch?

Or are they of the shoot first, ask questions later variety.

Bulmers

woke up this morning to find airbag in my 320 gone, blanchardstown area..

anyone any idea how much they are to replace,having a search about but not come across anything yet..steering wheel airbag for 320

keithclancy

greenermetals wrote: »

They are blown using a device plugged into car brain and it's detonated remotely. Airbags aren't taken out they're blown.

Nah .. All you need is a few wires with alligator clips and a battery.

I don't think it would be possible to blow the Airbags via the ODB-II connector, too dodgy to have that functionality available.