The “GM Boys” Are Here, Stealing Airbags From Cars in the Middle of the Night

A disturbing trend is picking up speed in Detroit, where thieves are going after newer General Motors vehicles specifically to steal airbags, leaving owners with no choice but to replace them.

As the cost of everything keeps rising, car parts are becoming more attractive to thieves. In several Detroit neighborhoods, criminals are no longer stealing entire vehicles—instead, they’re breaking into them just to remove airbags.

Local news outlets have been covering multiple cases involving Chevrolet Blazer and Chevrolet Trailblazer owners falling victim to this growing issue. In one surveillance video, a thief smashes the side window of a Trailblazer, climbs inside, and removes the steering wheel airbag in under a minute.

The speed is shocking, but the real problem is the cost. Airbags aren’t cheap. One affected owner said she won’t even go through insurance and plans to pay out of pocket. Replacing and installing a single airbag can reach up to $2,000, according to local reports.

Photos from one incident involving a so-called “GM Boy” show how cleanly the steering wheel airbag was removed, with almost no visible damage to the wheel itself.

Car theft has clearly evolved. Modern thieves need less than a minute to strip valuable components. Not long ago, the “Kia Boys” trend showed how easily certain vehicles could be stolen and driven off in under 25 seconds using basic tools. That wave of theft exposed weaknesses in some Kia and Hyundai models lacking engine immobilizers, with viral videos demonstrating the method using just a screwdriver and USB cable.

With GM vehicles, police haven’t fully explained how the airbags are being removed so quickly, but investigators say the stolen parts are usually sold on the black market. Prices there are far lower than dealership replacement costs, which fuels demand and keeps the cycle going.

For now, most of these incidents are concentrated in Detroit, with no widespread reports across the rest of the U.S. Still, law enforcement warns it may only be a matter of time before the method spreads.

The simplest protection remains basic: park in a garage or well-lit area. Though given how bold these thieves have become—often working right under surveillance cameras—that’s not always enough. Some drivers are also turning to steering wheel locks as an extra deterrent.