CHICAGO, Ill. – Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias has earmarked nearly $1.4 million for the Peoria Police Department’s efforts to curb carjackings and vehicle thefts.
The Illinois Vehicle Hijacking and Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention and Insurance Verification Council, which Giannoulias oversees, recently distributed more than $11 million to law enforcement agencies to combat a surge in crimes involving stolen vehicles.
The Peoria Auto Crimes Task Force is one of six law enforcement agencies statewide receiving a share of the grant money.
“A car is a lifeline for many Illinoisians. 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.”
Giannoulias announced the grants on Monday at the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office in Metro East.
Law enforcement agencies can use the grant money for salaries and benefits for personnel assigned to vehicle theft prevention units, vehicles, computers, vehicle tracking devices, GPS data, evidence kits, body cameras and drones for aerial vehicle searches.
The grant funding also enables law enforcement agencies to expand access to dedicated vehicle theft investigators and prosecutors at their local state’s attorney’s office.
Law enforcement can use the money to hire dedicated auditors to verify scrap shops and body shops are not using stolen parts or metal.
The additional funding has also enabled law enforcement agencies to work collaboratively with federal and local units to address instances of title fraud and to investigate cases of fraudulent vehicle identification numbers (VIN) before vehicles can be resold or recover vehicles fraudulently sold.
Funding for the grants comes from a $1.00 fee on every insured passenger vehicle in Illinois, paid by the insurance industry.
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