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Departments > Police > Investigations > Auto Theft
The Auto Theft detail is a subdivision of the Investigations Division. The detectives are responsible for investigating the thefts of all motor vehicles to include, but not limited to automobiles, light duty trucks, heavy-duty trucks, tractors, all types of trailers, motorcycles, vessels, and all earth moving equipment.
Many times a vehicle is located without license plates or vehicle identification numbers. It is the responsibility of the investigating detective to identify these vehicles through secondary identification numbers, engine numbers, or transmission numbers. Once these numbers are located, the detective must confirm the stolen status and notify the appropriate reporting agency of the recovery.
The detectives are also responsible for identifying vehicle theft trends. These trends could include specialized vehicles being taken, times or days of thefts, or specific years/models of vehicles targeted. Once these trends have been identified, it is the detectives’ responsibility to disseminate the information so the crimes can be prevented, other incidents can be solved and the perpetrators can be apprehended.
A question that is most frequently asked by people is, "How do you keep your vehicle from being stolen?
Answer: There are several ways to deter the auto thief. One is the purchase and installation of a "Club." Do not; however, rely on this item, as the "Club" can be bypassed/circumvented. The "Club" will; however, slow down an auto thief. Another alternative is the installation of an alarm, which can be an expensive investment. The best way to deter an auto thief is to not leave your keys in the vehicle/ignition, lock your vehicle securely, and place it in your garage. If no garage is available, lock and secure it in your driveway, or on a city street under a streetlight.
The best prevention of auto theft is common sense and alertness.
Contact The Illinois Secretary of State, Department of Police toll free at 1-(800)-608-0561 for information on their “Beat Auto Theft” program
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