Over 300 Stolen Vehicles Recovered in Illinois This Year

The fast are furious. Illinois State Police continue their crackdown on those who have chosen vehicle theft as a career and have already recovered more than 300 vehicles so far in 2026.

The Illinois State Police have just released the results of a renewed effort to thwart vehicle theft across the state. The Public Information Office of the Illinois State Police just released the following statistics for what they've accomplished just during the first 3 months of 2026:

• Vehicles recovered – stolen and/or hijacked - 316
• Stolen vehicle arrests - 32
• Hijacked vehicle arrests - 2
• Firearms seized as a result of stolen/hijacked vehicle recovery - 10
• Missions targeting stolen/hijacked vehicle recovery and related violent crime - 39
• K9 used for stolen/hijacked vehicle recovery and related violence crime - 22
• Air Operations targeting stolen/hijacked vehicle recovery and related violent crime - 39
• Forensic laboratory assignments related to stolen/hijacked vehicle - 918

This effort has been made possible by a $10 million dollar grant from the Illinois Secretary of State Illinois Vehicle Hijacking and Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention and Insurance Verification Council.

What can you do to reduce the risk of having your vehicle stolen?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says you should never leave your keys in your vehicle for any length of time no matter if you're near your vehicle or not. They also advise that you park in well-lit, busy, or secure areas. It's also recommended that you never leave valuables in your vehicle and that's especially true of smartphones. Thieves can easily cash in your phone for hundreds of dollars which makes any car or truck with a visible phone inside an easy target.