Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Funding from the Illinois Secretary of State is helping Illinois State Police (ISP) crack down on carjacking.

According to a news release, ISP has received more than $11 million in the last several fiscal years — $637,500 in July of this year — to address vehicle theft, hijacking, and connected violent crimes.  Among other states, in just July through September, 2025 alone, more than 280 vehicles recovered.

According to ISP, in July through September, 2025:

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

In one case in the East Saint Louis area, drug equipment was recovered from a stolen vehicle, a juvenile was arrested in Chicago, and in a third, a driver in Chicago tried to flee on foot, according to ISP.