Macon Reporter

Senator Erica Harriss highlighted the work of the Illinois State Police regarding vehicle theft and hijacking, saying that the funding for the project came from "a substantial $10 million grant from the Illinois Secretary of State's Illinois Vehicle Hijacking and Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention and Insurance Verification Council." She made the statement in a July 29 Facebook post.

"The Illinois State Police is continuing its efforts to combat vehicle theft and hijacking, thanks to a substantial $10 million grant from the Illinois Secretary of State's Illinois Vehicle Hijacking and Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention and Insurance Verification Council," said Harriss, Illinois State Senator (R), according to Facebook. "From April to June of 2024, ISP recovered 251 stolen and/or hijacked vehicles and made over 24 stolen vehicle arrests. This grant will allow ISP to allocate more resources towards enhanced patrols, air operations support, investigations, and forensic services to address these issues effectively."

According to a July 10 news release from the Illinois State Police (ISP), members of the ISP received a $10 million grant for the first fiscal year of the program targeting vehicle theft, hijacking, and related violent crimes. The agency also received a $677,000 grant, which was announced in June.

Screenshot of Sen. Erica Harriss' July 29 Facebook post | Senator Erica Harriss' Facebook page

"The Illinois State Police uses a multi-pronged approach, including increased patrol, air operations support, investigations, and forensic services to combat vehicle hijackings and thefts. This grant funding will allow ISP to focus additional resources on catching those committing vehicle thefts, hijackings, and other related violent crimes," said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly in the July 10 news release.

From April to June, ISP recovered 251 hijacked or stolen vehicles; made 24 arrests related to stolen vehicles; and seized 15 firearms as a result of stolen or hijacked vehicle recovery. There were 58 missions in that time period targeting stolen or hijacked vehicle recovery and related violent crimes, and 58 air operations targeting vehicles that were stolen or hijacked. There were also 1,356 forensic lab assignments related to stolen or hijacked vehicle cases, according to the July 10 news release.

The Illinois Vehicle Hijacking and Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention and Insurance Verification Council was created in 1991 as an 11-member council overseen by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority. The Illinois Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Act requires insurance companies to pay $1 per each private vehicle insured for physical damage coverage. Approximately $7 million is collected and distributed annually to reduce vehicle theft, motor vehicle theft-related crimes, and insurance fraud in the state, according to the Illinois Secretary of State’s webpage focusing on the council.

Harriss was elected to represent the people of the 56th Senate District in 2022 and began her term in 2023. Her political career began with a six-year stint on the Madison County Board representing the people of the 26th District; in that position, she served as Chair of the Personnel Committee. She was also a member of the Finance, Government Operations, and Grants Committees, according to her official biography. She is a business owner and an alumna of Edwards High School and Southern Illinois University where she earned a degree in speech communications/public relations.