The Illinois State Police say they recovered 424 stolen or hijacked vehicles from July through September 2026 as part of a continuing effort to target vehicle theft, hijacking and related violent crimes.

The agency said the work is funded by grants from the Illinois Secretary of State Illinois Vehicle Hijacking and Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention and Insurance Verification Council. The ISP said it was awarded a $10 million grant for the first fiscal year, another $677,000 in June 2024, and $637,500 in July 2025.

Third-quarter results

According to the ISP, its missions from July through September 2026 produced the following results:

  • 424 stolen and/or hijacked vehicles recovered
  • 21 stolen vehicle arrests
  • 1 hijacked vehicle arrest
  • 7 firearms seized as a result of stolen/hijacked vehicle recovery
  • 38 missions targeting stolen/hijacked vehicle recovery and related violent crime
  • 19 K9 deployments for stolen/hijacked vehicle recovery and related violent crime
  • 38 Air Operations targeting stolen/hijacked vehicle recovery and related violent crime
  • 1,146 forensic laboratory assignments related to stolen/hijacked vehicles

Recovery highlights

The ISP said that on Aug. 5, 2026, it 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 stop it, but the Nissan fled and crashed into a tree. The occupants tried to run, and the ISP said it took two people into custody and recovered a firearm.

On Aug. 22, 2026, the ISP said it located a stolen Chevrolet and attempted a traffic stop on Interstate 55 at Halsted, but the vehicle fled. The Chevrolet stopped in an alley in the 7200 block of South Union in Chicago, and its four occupants ran. The ISP said all four were taken into custody.

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

More information is available at isp.illinois.gov.

Source: the original release