Thief steals seven air bags

ST. CHARLES, Mo. -- When Bruce Carter learned a thief had broken into his Ford Mustang, he figured it was to swipe his radio.

What was taken? The air bags.

Carter and six of his neighbors woke up Monday to find themselves part of the air bag theft statistics. Six other Mustangs in the Remington apartment complex where he lives also were broken into.

Across the country, a black market for air bags is ballooning, according to insurance industry experts. They say disreputable auto body shops will buy driver and passenger air bags from a thief for about $200 each.