T U E S D AY | 0 4 . 2 2 . 2 0 1 4 | E X P R E S S | 9
Local
Are Air Bags the New Stereo for Thieves? Fairfax police report the safety devices stolen from 50 cars Fairfax County, Va. Enterprising thieves have turned laundry detergent into “liquid gold.” They’ve stripped copper from churches. Now, add a new item to the list you’d never thought they would target: air bags.
Fairfax County police report the safety devices have been stolen from more than 50 cars this year. Arlington police said a couple of weeks ago air bags were stolen from multiple cars in the Fairlington, Va., area. Ditto in Maryland’s Howard County in March and Montgomery County last year. Police and experts say there is a healthy black market for the items. Air bags retail for about $1,000, but stolen ones only cost $50 to $200,
according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. The group reports about 50,000 air bags are stolen across the country each year, totaling $50 million. Crooked repair shops install stolen air bags and then pocket the difference between the lower black market price and the market rate they charge the insurance company. “It’s become so brazen and bold they are selling these air bags on eBay and Craigslist,” said AAA Mid-
Atlantic spokesman John Townsend. “When a shop is installing an air bag that’s stolen, it could be compromised. That’s a potential safety risk — they may not deploy as they are supposed to.” If car owners are having an air bag installed, Townsend suggested they ask a repair shop to see the box the safety device came in or a receipt from the manufacturer. The most recent air bag thefts in Fairfax County targeted seven vehi-
cles in the Fairfax City area during the overnight hours of April 4 and 5, police said. Nine vehicles parked in the Annandale area were also hit overnight on April 9 and 10. Some of the cars have been unlocked, but in the majority of cases thieves are smashing out the rear window of a locked vehicle, police said. The suspects open the hood, disconnect the battery and remove the air bag. JUSTIN JOUVENAL (THE WASHINGTON POST)
McAuliffe Touts Achievements of His First 100 Days Richmond Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe marked his 100th day in office Monday by trumpeting a range of accomplishments and vowing to redouble his efforts to push for his still-elusive goal of Medicaid expansion. In a speech at the Library of Virginia and in a glossy 32-page booklet issued for the occasion, McAuliffe recapped work to strengthen ethics in government, prioritize transportation spending and reform school testing, among others. Republicans noted that some
of the biggest initiatives McAuliffe took credit for originated with legislation proposed by GOP legislators. “The Governor also attempted today to take credit for several significant initiatives championed by House Republicans,” Matthew Moran, spokesman for House McAuliffe Speaker William Howell, said in a written statement. McAuliffe vowed in his speech not to give up on plans to expand
Your Best Shot | Submitted by Jim Havard of Washington
Medicaid to as many as 400,000 Virginians. McAuliffe and a slim majority of the Senate support expansion, saying that it would help needy citizens and create 30,000 new jobs. The Republican-dominated House is opposed, saying that the federal government cannot afford to make good on its promise under the federal health-care law to pick up most of the $2 billion-a-year tab. The impasse has held up passage of the state budget and could lead to a shutdown of the state government if it is not resolved by July 1. LAURA VOZZELLA (THE WASHINGTON POST)
Police: Shooting Occurs Near Zoo
Become A Leader In
CYBER OPERATIONS Secure the country’s infrastructure with a master’s in strategic cyber operations and information management.
Washington
A MATTER OF PERSPECTIVE: “The Awakening” statue appears to menace a plane as well as the giant ferris wheel under construction at Maryland’s National Harbor. The 180-foot attraction is scheduled to open in May.
Join our Flickr pool at flickr.com/groups/wapoexpress to share your view of the D.C. area, from events to landscapes and everything in between. Your work could appear in Express.
Two men were shot and wounded late Monday afternoon near the National Zoo, which thousands of people had visited on the beautiful Monday after Easter. The men suffered injuries not considered to be life-threatening in the shooting, which occurred at 5:17 p.m., said a D.C. police spokesman. It was not known what led to the shooting. The address is across from one of the main zoo entrances, but there was no indication that the shooting involved the zoo or its visitors. MARTIN WEIL AND CLARENCE WILLIAMS (THE WASHINGTON POST)
Classes are taught by leaders in the field—bringing first-hand, practical experience to the classroom. Students gain a strategic understanding of policy and procedure, allowing them to lead an effective response against cyber threats. Attend classes one evening per week and one weekend per month.
For more information, please visit cps.gwu.edu/cyber-operations or call 703-248-2800. The George Washington University is an equal opportunity/ affirmative action institution certified to operate in Va by SCHEV.
39317