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More than 1,600 armed carjackings were reported in Chicago last
year, and although the problem is less severe downstate,
carjackings have been occurring in cities like Peoria and
Champaign.
More than half of the $21 million in funding will be going to
Illinois State Police and the Chicago Police Department as the
city deals with some of the highest numbers of carjackings seen
in at least a generation.
“This grant will allow the Illinois State Police to focus
additional resources on the prevention and the investigative
follow-up for vehicle thefts, hijackings and other related
violent crimes,” ISP Director Brendan Kelly said.
Other grants are going to the Illinois Statewide Auto Theft Task
Force, which is led by Secretary of State police ($3.4 million);
the Metro East Auto Theft Task Force ($2.5 million); the Greater
Peoria Auto Crimes Task Force ($2.1 million); and the Tri-County
Auto Theft Task Force ($1.8 million).
The funding is earmarked to supplement police budgets for
license plate readers, tracking devices, GPS software and other
technology to hunt down carjackers.
The grant money comes from a $1 annual auto insurance policy
assessment managed by the secretary of state’s office.
Funds will be distributed over the next few weeks. The police
agencies can apply to renew the grants for the next three years.
Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias revealed Thursday that he
was a carjacking victim when he was in high school.
“I will tell you this happened a quarter century ago, and I
still leave at least a car length when I stop at a stop light or
a stop sign,” Giannoulias said.
Kevin Bessler reports on statewide issues in
Illinois for the Center Square. He has over 30 years of
experience in radio news reporting throughout the Midwest.
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