24.08.2010

Professional thieves target BMW airbags

Early last December, the Auto Trade Journal reported that thieves targeted two Irish BMW dealerships, stealing 11 airbag modules. The thieves targeted the used car displays at both dealerships. In both cases the windows of cars were broken and the airbag module from the steering wheel was stolen. It appears that these were not isolated incidences.

Now the Irish Examiner is reporting that the Gardai believe a highly professional gang may be exporting airbags stolen from expensive 5-series BMWs. A senior garda said that in the last couple of weeks a number of such cars had been targeted by the gang operating in parts of Co Cork.

The Examiner reports that the gang struck again in the early hours of last Tuesday morning in Glounthaune in what gardaí described "as a very professional job". They broke into three 5-series BMWs, none of which was more than three years old.

A Garda spokeman told the paper, "They popped the locks and disabled the alarms on two of the vehicles. They then removed the airbags from the steering wheels. It was a very neat and highly professional job," a garda spokesman said. Gardaí from Glanmire carried out a forensic examination on the vehicles in an effort to find clues to the identity of the gang.

Meanwhile, gardaí in north Cork believe the same gang also targeted two BMW 5-series sports cars in the village of Castletownroche on August 6 last. "They also went after the airbags on the steering wheel and did a very neat job," a Garda spokesman in nearby Fermoy said. The previous night. thieves targeted a 3-series BMW in Duntaheen, Fermoy.

Senior gardaí investigating the thefts suspect the gang may be stealing the airbags for resale overseas. "They could be exporting them to put into crashed cars which are being done up abroad. But we haven’t ruled out the possibility that they could also be giving them to people who are doing up crashed BMWs here," a spokesman said.

However, BMW Group can trace these specific airbag modules as the unique serial number on each is linked to the chassis number of the original vehicle at the time of production. It is, possible therefore to identify these units should they be discovered by a BMW dealership in the future or recovered by the Gardai.

Given the importance of airbag modules in ensuring driver and passenger safety, it is essential that bodyshops and other repairers source only genuine units from BMW dealers. 

Airbag modules that are fitted incorrectly or which have been damaged in any way may not deploy correctly in the event of an accident and could even deploy in error while the car is being driven in normal conditions. Think twice before buying second-hand airbag modules!

A Garda spokesman told the Examiner that BMW owners should keep a close eye on their vehicles and call their nearest Garda station immediately if they notice anybody trying to break into them. The cost of replacing each BMW airbag is over €1,000.

"We are very anxious to catch this gang as soon as possible so we can stop these thefts and we would appreciate any help the public can give us," the spokesman said.

Gardaí investigating the thefts are appealing for anybody in he trade with information, please contact Fermoy Gardaí Station at 025-82100, or Glanmire Garda Station at 021-4821002.

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