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No, we’re not talking about politicians here; we’re talking about stolen car parts: more specifically, air bags.
The Highway Loss Data Institute reports that air bags are now stolen in ten percent of all auto thefts nationwide. With no identifying numbers or marks, air bags can easily be transformed into cash for the adept scam artist.
The average cost of an airbag is $1,500. Dishonest body shops are quickly learning that a repair/replacement can be quoted to the insurance company, incorporating the full manufacturer’s price, but the actual replacement bag can be obtained on the streets for a fraction of the cost new.
To stem this rising fraud, federal legislation is being considered that would require vehicle manufacturers to stamp the car’s 17-digit VIN on the air bag component. This could prove to be very important: beginning in 1998, all new cars are required to have air bags.
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