DETROIT (WXYZ) — A thief broke into a brand-new Chevy Trailblazer in Detroit's Islandview neighborhood and ripped out the airbag — and the owner says the $2,000 repair bill is adding insult to injury.
A home surveillance camera captured the break-in, which happened just after 5 a.m. Tuesday as Sandra Busko and her family were in the middle of renovating their new home.
Watch surveillance video of the break-in below:
"So it's very shocking to wake up to. I was kind of in disbelief," Busko said.
Instead of putting that money toward their renovation, Busko is now paying out of pocket for the repair.
"I already put my deposit down for the repairs. They're going to be $2,000 and I'm not going through insurance because Detroit insurance is insane already. And so I decided not to use my $1,000 deductible and just pay out of pocket, but that would have been $2,000. I could have used for renovations, so it's hard," Busko said.
The break-in follows the theft of an airbag from another man's vehicle and the thefts of newer model Chevy Blazers covered back in April — capers that were also caught on camera.
Extended interview: Sandra Busko describes the moment she learned about the car break-in
In one of those earlier incidents, Keyonia Leveston's vehicle was eventually recovered by police — but it had been stripped and the airbag was missing.
"I was like, wow. He got his Crocs in sports mode, and he's taking my car, like what the heck. He doesn't even care — he don't even care to put on gym shoes. He can't even steal it with class," Leveston said.
Related Story: Detroit auto thieves target Chevy Blazers for their high-value parts
Former Detroit Assistant Police Chief Steve Dolunt says black-market demand is driving the thefts.
"So when you lose your—like she lost her airbag, she's going to go buy another one. She can go to a dealership, which is going to cost more, 2,000 bucks, OK, or she can come to me, an independent, yeah, retailer, and get it for whatever because I bought it from that guy on the street," Dolunt said.
Busko says she hopes the Detroit Police Department increases patrols in the area and is interested in starting a neighborhood watch program. She also had a message for the thief.
"Detroit's a beautiful city, and I just wish you could, you know, help bring it back and rebuild it rather than causing people who work hard and are putting their heart and soul into this to have to keep dealing with this kind of theft, and we already prayed for you guys," Busko said.
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