Peoria to receive millions in state dollars to reduce car theft

PEORIA (25News Now) - It’s one of the “worst counties” in all of Illinois for car theft, says Peoria’s chief prosecutor, and the city council Tuesday night accepted help from state government with millions of dollars in funds to help fight the problem.

The council voted to accept a $2.1 million grant to have an auto crimes task force target the crime that often results in vandalism, the theft of catalytic converters and other valuables.

Council members heard State’s Attorney Jodi Hoos explain this could end up being a four-year grant worth upwards of $8 million to address an issue that Hoos says impacts everyone.

“This is, hopefully, a four-year grant. So, this $2.1 million, roughly, is just for the first year. So total it’s almost a $9 million dollar grant that we’re going to bring to the city,” said Hoos.

“(It’s) a lot of money to attack a very specific issue that we have that impacts everybody,” Hoos said.

The grant money comes from the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office.

Copyright 2023 WEEK. All rights reserved.