The Illinois State Police say they recovered 424 stolen or hijacked vehicles and made 22 arrests from July through September as part of an ongoing effort to combat vehicle theft, hijacking and related violent crime.

The agency said Tuesday it is using grant funding from the Illinois Secretary of State's Illinois Vehicle Hijacking and Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention and Insurance Verification Council. According to the release, the state police were awarded a $10 million grant for the first fiscal year, another $677,000 in June 2024 and $637,500 in July 2025.

Third-quarter totals

From July through September 2026, the Illinois State Police reported:

  • 424 stolen and/or hijacked vehicles recovered
  • 21 stolen vehicle arrests
  • 1 hijacked vehicle arrest
  • 7 firearms seized during stolen or hijacked vehicle recoveries
  • 38 missions targeting recovery and related violent crime
  • K9 used 19 times for recovery and related violence
  • 38 Air Operations targeting recovery and related violent crime
  • 1,146 forensic laboratory assignments related to stolen or hijacked vehicles

Recovery highlights

On Aug. 5, 2026, the state police learned of a crash involving a stolen Nissan at Garfield and Wells in Chicago. A trooper located the Nissan at Wentworth and 59th and tried to make a traffic stop, but the vehicle fled and crashed into a tree. The occupants tried to run, and troopers took two people into custody and recovered a firearm, the release said.

On Aug. 22, 2026, troopers located a stolen Chevrolet and attempted a traffic stop on Interstate 55 at Halsted, but the vehicle fled. It stopped in an alley in the 7200 block of South Union in Chicago, and the four occupants ran. All four were taken into custody, according to the release.

On Sept. 2, 2026, troopers located a Dodge involved in an aggravated vehicular hijacking on Interstate 94 southbound at 79th and attempted a traffic stop. The Dodge fled and crashed into two unoccupied vehicles, and its three occupants ran. All three were taken into custody and a firearm was recovered, the release said.

Source: the original release