Illinois Car Theft Operation Recovers 200+ Vehicles

Illinois State Police are taking a bite out of specific type of crime. Vehicle hijackings and thefts have been a target for law enforcement and a recent operation has netted them more than 200 vehicles that have now been recovered.

According to the Public Information Office of the Illinois State Police, life has become more difficult for car and truck thieves. They just released new data on their efforts to combat vehicle hijackings and thefts and the results are impressive. Check out these numbers just from April 2025 through the end of June 2025:

• Vehicles recovered – stolen and/or hijacked 225
• Stolen vehicle arrests 6
• Firearms seized as a result of stolen/hijacked vehicle recovery 15
• Missions targeting stolen/hijacked vehicle recovery and related violent crime 48
• K9 used for stolen/hijacked vehicle recovery and related violence crime 27
• Air Operations targeting stolen/hijacked vehicle recovery and related violent crime 48
• Forensic laboratory assignments related to stolen/hijacked vehicle 1,215

How have so many hijacked and stolen vehicles been recovered in Illinois in such a short time?

Illinois law enforcement credits the Illinois Secretary of State Illinois Vehicle Hijacking and Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention and Insurance Verification Council grants which have totaled more than $11 million dollars in the past few years. New technology and plate readers have also made a difference in helping Illinois State Police track down so many of these stolen Illinois wheels.