Why Are People Stealing Steering Wheels Out of Cars in Metro Detroit?

Police in Dearborn and Troy have had their hands full lately with thieves taking the steering wheel out of people's vehicles.

More than a dozen steering wheels were stolen from vehicles at an apartment complex in Troy in mid-January.

Apparently, thieves aren't actually wanting the steering wheel, they want the airbag inside of the steering wheel so that they can resell it. It's a heck of a lot faster for them to steal the steering wheel right out of the car and remove the air bag later.

Police in Dearborn are also seeing more and more airbags stolen by thieves who wait for their victims to go bed and then they bust out their windows and rip out the steering wheel.

Get our free mobile app

It's usually General Motors vehicles that are being targeted, specifically the Chevy Malibu. I'm not sure what it is about the Malibu that makes it one one of the main targets.

These dirt bag crooks will sell the stolen goods for a lousy few hundred dollars to shops that are willing to look the other way. They're making a couple hundred bucks off your air bag, while you have to spend thousands get the entire steering wheel and electronics replaced.

Honestly, there isn't a lot you can do to protect yourself aside from the obvious. Make sure you always lock your car, park in a garage if at all possible or buy a steering wheel lock. Of course, locking your car won't do you much good if they're going to break out the window anyway.