SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WMBD) — The Illinois Secretary of State, Alexi Giannoulias, announced on Monday that more than $1 million is coming to a Central Illinois task force.
A total of $1,360,600 was awarded to the Greater Peoria Auto Crimes Task Force and the Peoria Police Department to help combat a surge of carjackings and auto vehicle thefts across Illinois, Giannoulias said in a news release.
The money comes from the Illinois Vehicle Hijacking and Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention and Insurance Verification Council, which awarded more than $11 million to six law enforcement agencies across Illinois.
“A car is a lifeline for many Illinoisans. It gets them to work, helps them take care of their families and connects them with loved ones. When it’s stolen, it can turn a family’s life upside down,” Giannoulias said. “By strengthening coordination across agencies and equipping law enforcement with the right tools and technology, we’re putting law enforcement in a better position to combat the rise in carjackings and vehicle theft while keeping our communities safe.”
He also said this is important as he has experienced being carjacked before.
“As someone who was carjacked when I was in high school over 30 years ago, it is a very scarring, very scarring moment in my life. And I think about it almost every day. And this is happening across our state,” Giannoulias said.
He said the money is used to pay for dedicated vehicle theft investigators and prosecutors. It can also pay for dedicated auditors to investigate if scrap of body shops are using stolen parts or metals.
The money can also be used for equipment, including vehicle tracking devices and drones for aerial vehicle searches.
In the fiscal year 2025, Giannoulias said $65 million worth of stolen vehicles have been recovered.
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