ILLINOIS STATE POLICE COMBATS VEHICLE HIJACKING AND THEFT
October 15, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 15, 2025
SPRINGFIELD – 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. ISP was awarded a $10 million grant for the first fiscal year, another $677,000 in June 2024, and $637,500 in July 2025.
From July through September 2025, ISP missions resulted in the following:
Vehicles recovered – stolen and/or hijacked | 280 |
Stolen vehicle arrests | 21 |
Hijacked vehicle arrests | 4 |
Firearms seized as a result of stolen/hijacked vehicle recovery | 13 |
Missions targeting stolen/hijacked vehicle recovery and related violent crime | 40 |
K9 used for stolen/hijacked vehicle recovery and related violence crime | 30 |
Air Operations targeting stolen/hijacked vehicle recovery and related violent crime | 34 |
Forensic laboratory assignments related to stolen/hijacked vehicle | 1,287 |
Highlights of ISP vehicle recovery efforts:
- July 20, 2025, ISP located a stolen Nissan and attempted a traffic stop on I-94 southbound at 63rd Street in Chicago, but the Nissan fled. The driver of the Nissan parked around the 13000 block of S. Ellis Ave and the driver ran from the vehicle. ISP took the driver into custody and recovered a stolen firearm.
- August 28, 2025, ISP located a stolen vehicle and attempted a traffic stop on 74th Street and Marybell Avenue in East St. Louis. ISP took the driver into custody and a drug pipe was recovered.
- September 20, 2025, ISP located a freshly carjacked vehicle and attempted a traffic stop on Ogden Ave at Polk Street in Chicago, but the vehicle fled. The vehicle crashed into a Chicago Police Department squad car near Madison and Pulaski and the driver ran from the vehicle. ISP took the juvenile driver into custody.
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