<p>Buyers and sellers of stolen air bags will now face harsher penalties under a new ordinance approved Wednesday by Chicago’s City Council.</p><p>Sponsored by Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36th), the ordinance is the first attempt to crack down on the city’s <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/public-safety/2026/05/11/airbag-thefts-repair-wait-times-chicago-explainer-honda-cpd-catalytic-converter" target="_blank" >skyrocketing rate of air bag thefts</a>. It passed unanimously, without debate on the City Council floor.</p><p>There were more than 1,200 victims of air bag thefts across Chicago in the first four months of this year, according to Chicago police data <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdogs/2026/06/12/air-bag-theft-chicago-police-cpd-lake-view-lincoln-park-villegas-riccio" target="_blank" >analyzed by the Sun-Times</a>.