Car theft in Chicago is declining, despite thieves targeting certain brands — what Illinois's doing to curb it
First the good news. With co-ordinated efforts from police, lawmakers and automakers across the country, car thefts are tracking down nationwide.
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As CBS News Chicago reports, last year, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) observed a 17% reduction in care thefts: the biggest drop in 40 years, with fewer auto insurance claims related to car theft.
The sea change is even dramatic in Chicago, which saw a record number of car thefts (31,565 vehicles) in 2023.
The tide has turned in the city, as car thefts dropped an impressive 35% between January and May 4 in 2025. Chicago Police Cmdr. Andrew Costello says the numbers are definitely 'trending in the right direction' overall.
The bad news? Some numbers are trending in the wrong direction, as thieves change their methods.
In 2023, thieves targeted older Kia and Hyundai cars that lacked immobilizers. According to Pinkerton Consulting, thieves could hack into these cars' electronics systems using a USB cable.
The hacks proliferated as teen members of the so-called Kia Boyz stole vehicles and shared their exploits on TikTok and YouTube.
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In response, Kia and Hyundai developed a free software upgrade to curb theft. The result was dramatic. In 2024, thefts of Kia and Hyundai vehicles dropped nearly 50% in Chicago. Overall, car thefts in Chicago dropped to 23,135 incidents.
Unfortunately, police have a new problem. Now auto thieves are targeting high-end vehicles instead of Kias and Hyundais. They're after sports cars, pickups and Jeep and Dodge SUVs.
A CBS News Chicago analysis found that more than 400 luxury Lexus vehicles, 1,700 Jeeps and 1,500 Dodges were stolen in 2024.
Glen Brooks, deputy director of community policing for the Chicago Police Department, reports another disturbing trend. Thieves are using these high-end cars to commit bigger crimes.
'We sometimes have the idea that people steal your car, it goes to a chop shop and it's divided up for parts,' he told CBS News Chicago.
'We are seeing something completely different. We're seeing those cars being used in robberies.'
Cmdr. Costello said auto theft is 'the gateway to larger thefts, to the robberies, carjackings, shootings,' and other violent crimes.
While motor vehicle theft remains a problem, a combination of technology and efforts by law enforcement are helping to drive stats down.
As ABC 7 Chicago reports, Illinois has issued $11 million to law enforcement agencies statewide to help prevent carjackings and car thefts.
That money went toward the purchase of technology including license plate readers, helicopters, and other tracking devices.
Lt. Adam Broshous, who leads the Illinois Statewide Auto Theft Task Force (ISATT), told CBS News the technology 'has been a game changer, especially in Chicago.'
License plate readers, installed in police vehicles, use cameras and software to capture plate numbers. Officers can use the data to identify stolen cars and track where they've been and what they've been used for — potentially identifying the criminals involved.
So far, his task force has recovered 143 stolen cars and made 85 criminal charges, including 45 felonies and 40 misdemeanors. It has also recovered 16 guns. Meanwhile, prosecutions of those involved in car thefts are also increasing.
Glen Brooks, deputy director of community policing, told CBS News that while those efforts are making a difference, so too is educating the community.
'If we can get to our young people, if we can make our property more secure, if we can work with our neighbors to make our neighborhoods better and safer, that will lower the likelihood someone will come to perpetrate harm,' he said.
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
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