Air Bag Theft

* We have read with great interest “Air Bag Theft an Expanding New Problem,” April 7. An excellent report, finely written and serving the public good. We salute you for delving into this growing problem.

However, we were taken aback by one paragraph, which states, in part, “auto dismantlers buy the bags as salvage items with no questions asked.” This would seem to imply that all or any auto dismantlers are involved in such unsavory conduct, which, of course, is not true.

We are professional, licensed, regulated and a highly policed industry--the nation’s 16th largest. We deal in salvaged vehicles, usually obtained from insurance auctions and sales. Rather than collaborate with thieves, as the article might imply, we work with various law enforcement agencies to rid our industry of just the people the article describes. In fact, most of the criminal activity investigated by the various agencies is reported by our own members.

We hope any future articles of this nature will make it crystal-clear that you are talking about a minute number who would violate the law.

TERRY FISKIN, Executive Director

Auto Dismantlers Assn.

of Southern California