Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced more than $11 million in new grants to assist law enforcement agencies throughout the state to protect against the surge in carjackings and vehicle thefts. The Illinois Vehicle Hijacking and Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention and Insurance Verification Council, which Giannoulias’ office oversees, recently distributed grants to six law enforcement agencies. To fund the grants, the insurance industry provides $1 for every passenger vehicle it insures to the Secretary of State’s Office. The data shows the grants are paying off, especially when it comes to carjackings. In Chicago, carjackings have plummeted from a high of 1,852 in 2021 to just 379 so far this year.  The grants also made it possible for the Illinois Statewide Auto Theft Task Force (ISATT), one of the task forces receiving funds, to conduct more than 1,550 investigations and recover 1,100 vehicles worth more than $31 million last fiscal year. Law enforcement agencies can use the awards 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 office.