{
    "title": "ILLINOIS STATE POLICE COMBATS VEHICLE HIJACKING AND THEFT",
    "modified_at": "2026-04-14 13:59:12",
    "published_at": "2026-04-14 13:59:00",
    "url": "https://illinois-state-police.prezly.com/illinois-state-police-combats-vehicle-hijacking-and-theft-7pjli1",
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    "culture": "en",
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    "slug": "illinois-state-police-combats-vehicle-hijacking-and-theft-7pjli1",
    "body": "<p style=\"text-align: center\">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</p><p style=\"text-align: center\">APRIL 14, 2026</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>SPRINGFIELD</strong> &ndash; The Illinois State Police (ISP) continues to target vehicle theft, hijacking, and related violent crimes using grant funding from the Illinois Secretary of State Illinois Vehicle Hijacking and Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention and Insurance Verification Council. \u200b ISP was awarded a $10 million grant for the first fiscal year, another $677,000 in June 2024, and $637,500 in July 2025. </p><p style=\"text-align: justify\">From January through March 2026, ISP missions resulted in the following: </p>\n<div\n    class=\"table-container\"\n    style=\"\"\n>\n    <table\n        class=\"table table-bordered\"\n    >\n                            <tbody>\n                            <tr>\n                                            <td class=\"border\"><div class=\"text-default v-spacing\"><p style=\"text-align: justify\">Vehicles recovered &ndash; stolen and/or hijacked</p></div></td>                                            <td class=\"border\"><div class=\"text-default v-spacing\"><p style=\"text-align: right\">316</p></div></td>                                    </tr>\n                            <tr>\n                                            <td class=\"border\"><div class=\"text-default v-spacing\"><p style=\"text-align: justify\">Stolen vehicle arrests</p></div></td>                                            <td class=\"border\"><div class=\"text-default v-spacing\"><p style=\"text-align: right\">32</p></div></td>                                    </tr>\n                            <tr>\n                                            <td class=\"border\"><div class=\"text-default v-spacing\"><p style=\"text-align: justify\">Hijacked vehicle arrests</p></div></td>                                            <td class=\"border\"><div class=\"text-default v-spacing\"><p style=\"text-align: right\">2</p></div></td>                                    </tr>\n                            <tr>\n                                            <td class=\"border\"><div class=\"text-default v-spacing\"><p style=\"text-align: justify\">Firearms seized as a result of stolen/hijacked vehicle recovery</p></div></td>                                            <td class=\"border\"><div class=\"text-default v-spacing\"><p style=\"text-align: right\">10</p></div></td>                                    </tr>\n                            <tr>\n                                            <td class=\"border\"><div class=\"text-default v-spacing\"><p style=\"text-align: justify\">Missions targeting stolen/hijacked vehicle recovery and related violent crime</p></div></td>                                            <td class=\"border\"><div class=\"text-default v-spacing\"><p style=\"text-align: right\">39</p></div></td>                                    </tr>\n                            <tr>\n                                            <td class=\"border\"><div class=\"text-default v-spacing\"><p style=\"text-align: justify\">K9 used for stolen/hijacked vehicle recovery and related violence crime</p></div></td>                                            <td class=\"border\"><div class=\"text-default v-spacing\"><p style=\"text-align: right\">22</p></div></td>                                    </tr>\n                            <tr>\n                                            <td class=\"border\"><div class=\"text-default v-spacing\"><p style=\"text-align: justify\">Air Operations targeting stolen/hijacked vehicle recovery and related violent crime</p></div></td>                                            <td class=\"border\"><div class=\"text-default v-spacing\"><p style=\"text-align: right\">39</p></div></td>                                    </tr>\n                            <tr>\n                                            <td class=\"border\"><div class=\"text-default v-spacing\"><p style=\"text-align: justify\">Forensic laboratory assignments related to stolen/hijacked vehicle</p></div></td>                                            <td class=\"border\"><div class=\"text-default v-spacing\"><p style=\"text-align: right\">918</p></div></td>                                    </tr>\n                        </tbody>\n            </table>\n</div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Highlights of ISP vehicle recovery efforts: </p><ul class=\"release-content-list release-content-list--bulleted release-content-list--align-inherit\"><li><span>January 29, 2026, ISP located a stolen vehicle on I-64 and 15<sup>th</sup> Street in East Saint Louis. \u200b The driver parked in a parking lot near State Street and 24<sup>th</sup> Street. \u200b \u200b ISP took the driver into custody and recovered a firearm. </span></li><li><span>February 17, 2026, ISP located a stolen Ford parked at 7700 S. Essex Ave. in Chicago. \u200b The driver attempted to run from the vehicle. \u200b ISP took the driver and passenger into custody. </span></li><li><span>March 7, 2026, ISP located a stolen vehicle that crashed on I-94 northbound at 47<sup>th</sup> St. \u200b Three occupants ran from the vehicle. \u200b Officers took all three occupants into custody and recovered a firearm. \u200b \u200b </span></li></ul><p style=\"text-align: center\">###</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p style=\"text-align: center\">&nbsp;</p><p style=\"text-align: center\">&nbsp;</p><div class=\"release-content-contact\" id=\"contact-2d8582c3-6660-46ec-be9a-ede92e8776d0\">\n    <div class=\"release-content-contact__avatar\"><img src=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/c186f24e-632d-4a36-87df-aa1eb28e1989/-/crop/425x425/63,0/-/preview/-/scale_crop/128x128/center/-/format/auto/\" alt=\"Illinois State Police\" class=\"release-content-contact__avatar-image\" /></div>\n    <div class=\"release-content-contact__details\">\n        <strong class=\"release-content-contact__name\">Illinois State Police</strong>\n        <em class=\"release-content-contact__description\">Public Information Office, Office of the Director</em>\n        <ul class=\"release-content-contact__details-list\"><li class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item\"><a href=\"mailto:ISP.PIO.Personnel@illinois.gov\"  class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item-link\" title=\"ISP.PIO.Personnel@illinois.gov\"><svg class=\"icon icon-paper-plane release-content-contact__details-list-item-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-paper-plane\"></use>\n            </svg>ISP.PIO.Personnel@illinois.gov</a></li>\n<li class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item\"><a href=\"https://twitter.com/@ILStatePolice\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item-link\" title=\"@ILStatePolice\"><svg class=\"icon icon-twitter release-content-contact__details-list-item-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-twitter\"></use>\n            </svg>@ILStatePolice</a></li>\n<li class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item\"><a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/ILStatePolice/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item-link\" title=\"ILStatePolice\"><svg class=\"icon icon-facebook release-content-contact__details-list-item-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-facebook\"></use>\n            </svg>ILStatePolice</a></li>\n<li class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item\"><a href=\"https://isp.illinois.gov/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item-link\" title=\"isp.illinois.gov\"><svg class=\"icon icon-browser release-content-contact__details-list-item-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-browser\"></use>\n            </svg>isp.illinois.gov</a></li></ul>\n    </div>\n</div><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>",
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    "contacts": [
        {
            "name": "Illinois State Police",
            "company": "Office of the Director",
            "description": "Public Information Office",
            "email": "ISP.PIO.Personnel@illinois.gov",
            "website": "https://isp.illinois.gov/",
            "address": null,
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            "twitter": "@ILStatePolice",
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