>> HELLO AND ASK FOR JOINING US ON A SPECIAL EDITION OF CHICAGO TONIGHT.

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> AND I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

TONIGHT IS THE LATEST IN OUR SERIES WTTW NEWS SABER CITY.

EVERY MONDAY IN JULY AND AUGUST WE ARE DEDICATING OUR ENTIRE PROGRAM TO ISSUES OF PUBLIC AND COMMUNITY SAFETY.

>> WE ALSO ARE -- INCLUDING AT WTTV.COM .

HERE IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT TONIGHT.

>>> WHAT IF WE WAS IN HERE?

>> CHICAGO -- GETTING THEM THERE SAFELY.

>>> BILLIONS OF DOLLARS ARE LOST EACH YEAR TO RETAIL THEFT.

WE LOOK AT THE IMPACT ON CHICAGO AREA STORES.

>>> COMPLETELY GONE AND I KNEW EXACTLY WHERE I PARKED IT.

>> WHITE MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT HAS RISEN AN ASTRONOMICAL 139% IN JUST THREE YEARS AND HOW YOU CAN PROTECT YOUR CAR .

>>> ANOTHER CRIME LEAVING DRIVERS ON EDGE.

HEAR ABOUT LOCAL EFFORTS TO CURB CARJACKING.

ALL THAT RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> CHICAGO TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALEXANDRA AND JOHN NICHOLS .

THE GYM AND -- CENTER.

THE POPE BROTHERS FOUNDATION AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

CHICAGO TONIGHT'S COVERAGE OF PUBLIC SAFETY IS SUPPORTED BY THE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION INITIATIVE FOR REDUCING VIOLENCE IN CHICAGO.

>>> THOUSANDS OF CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS WERE BACK IN CLASS TODAY AFTER THEIR SUMMER VACATION.

CHICAGO TONIGHT JOANNA HERNANDEZ VISITED WITH SOME OF THE PEOPLE TASKED WITH GETTING THEM THERE SAFELY.

JOANNA?

>> Reporter: BRANDIS, THEY ARE CALLED SAFE PASSAGE WORKERS AND YOU CAN'T MISS THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE WEARING THESE BRIGHT NEON BEST.

THEY ARE TRAN -- TRAINED TO -- MAKE SURE THEY ARE WALKING INTO THE SCHOOL BUILDING SAFETY.

>> GOOD MORNING.

HOW Y'ALL DOING?

>> FOR THE LAST NINE YEARS.

>> Reporter: SHE'S BEEN A SAFE PASSAGE WORKER AT NORTH MIDDLE SCHOOL IN BRONZEVILLE.

>> WHEN YOU CAN PLAY A PART IN SOMEONE'S LIFE TO MAKE IT SAFE FOR THEM, THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES.

>> Reporter: BURKE IS ONE OF HUNDREDS OF SAFE PASSAGE WORKERS SERVING AS THE EYES AND EARS OF CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> BEFORE AND AFTER CARE.

WE MAKE SURE THEY ARE SAFE.

YOU KNOW, THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO ANY CARS, THEY ARE NOT WANDERING UP THE SCHOOL GROUNDS.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> Reporter: AT WOODSON NORTH MIDDLE SCHOOL, EIGHT SAFE PASSAGE EMPLOYEES LINE UP AROUND THE SCHOOL WITH BRIGHT SMILES AND OPEN ARMS.

A WELCOMING TOUCH THAT PARENT -- DILLARD ENJOYS.

>> BEING ABLE TO TRUST THAT THEY CAN LOOK AFTER THEM.

I HAVE TO DROP THEM OFF AND THE LIKE YOU GOT THEM AND THEY MAKE SURE HE GETS IN OKAY.

>> Reporter: THE PROGRAM STARTED IN 2009.

NOW SERVING 188 PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

CITY OFFICIALS SAY SAFE PASSAGE WORKERS ARE THE FIRST LINE OF PROTECTION IN SOME OF THE MOST CHALLENGING COMMUNITIES.

>> WE HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED A SHOOTING, BUT YOU CAN HEAR THEM A COUPLE OF BLOCKS AWAY.

WE HAVE A CODE OF 911 THAT MEANS, HEY, IT'S A SHOOTING SOMEWHERE.

BE AWARE.

HEY, HOW ARE YOU?

OH!

>> Reporter: THE MOTHER OF SEVEN SAYS BUILDING COMMUNITY IS WHAT DRIVES HER PASSION FOR KEEPING STUDENTS SAFE.

>> IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

WE HEAR IT ALL THE TIME .

YOU BE OUT HERE AND THEN YOU SEE IN YOUR LIKE, MAN, I'M GLAD THEY ARE OUT HERE.

WHAT IF WE WAS IN HERE?

A LOT OF THINGS COULD TAKE PLACE.

>> GOOD MORNING!

POINT >> GOOD MORNING.

>> Reporter: WE KNOW THERE ARE NEARLY TWO 1200 EMPLOYEES WORKING IN SCHOOLS ACROSS THE CITY.

REPORTING LIVE IN BUENA PARK, I'M JOANNA HERNANDEZ, SENDING IT BACK TO YOU.

>> JOANNA, THANK YOU.

AND ON A PROGRAMMING KNOW, WE WILL HAVE PEDRO MARTINEZ ON THE PHONE TO TALK ABOUT THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR.

>>> RETAIL THEFT IS ON THE RISE.

U.S. CHAMBER OF CONGRESS ESTIMATES THAT THEFT COST AMERICAN RETAILERS NEARLY $100 BILLION LAST YEAR IN ILLINOIS .

THEY ESTIMATE MORE THAN $2 BILLION WORTH OF GOODS WERE STOLEN IN 2021.

BUT IT SAYS THE COST TO BUSINESSES WAS MORE THAN DOUBLE THAT.

AT MORE THAN $4 BILLION WHEN FACTORS WERE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.

JOINING US NOW TO GIVE US THEIR TAKE ON THIS ISSUE AND WHAT IS BEING DONE TO ADDRESS IT ARE ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL KWAME RAOUL, ROB CARR, SOLENOID -- CEO AND SCOTT GLENN, VICE PRESIDENT OF -- HOME DEPOT, THANKS TO YOU ALL FOR JOINING US.

LET'S START WITH YOU PLEASE.

PLEASE GIVE US A SENSE OF SCALE OF THE PROBLEM.

AT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S AFFECTING BOTH SMALL AND LARGE BUSINESSES?

>> THE ANSWER IS A DEFECTIVE YES.

WE'VE SEEN EVERYONE IMPACTED THE LIKES OF HOME DEPOT, WHOSE WITH US TONIGHT, TO A CONSIGNMENT SHOP, TO A SHOE STORE IN INGLEWOOD.

IT AFFECTS EVERYONE .

ALL TYPES OF MERCHANDISE.

>> IS IT YOUR SENSE THAT -- ARE THEY ESPECIALLY BAD IN CHICAGO , OR IS IT SOMETHING NATIONWIDE?

>> IT IS NATIONWIDE.

THERE'S SOME CERTAIN COMMONALITIES OR IN CERTAIN AREAS BUT CHICAGO IS CLEARLY ONE OF THE EPICENTERS.

>> ATTORNEY GENERAL , IS THIS A LARGE-SCALE ORGANIZED THAT THAT WE ARE SEEING?

WHO'S DOING THIS?

>> IT VARIES.

YOU HAVE ORDINARY RETAIL THEFT.

YOU HAVE WELL ORGANIZED CRIME RINGS AND SOME OF THE ACTORS MAY BE OUT OF OUR JURISDICTION.

THE PROCEEDS ORGANIZED RETAIL OFTEN FUND OTHER CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES .

GUN TRAFFICKING, HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

IN SOME CASES, EVEN TERRORISM.

>> RIGHT NOW WE ARE LOOKING AT A LIST OF RETAIL THEFT LOCATIONS IN CHICAGO.

THE TOP ONES.

SEVERAL WALMARTS.

STOP GLENN -- SCOTT GLENN, HOW DO YOU THINK THIS IS A DEAL FOR HOME DEPOT?

IS IT AN INCONVENIENCE OR SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO FACTOR INTO THE COST OF BUSINESS?

>> CERTAINLY A PART OF IT IS FACTORED INTO THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS.

THERE'S THE FINANCIAL IMPACT THAT HITS EVERY COMPANY.

THIS KIND OF ACTIVITY , BUT THERE IS ALSO A SAFETY CONCERN WE HAVE.

THE CRIMINALS BECOMING MUCH MORE BRAZEN AND MUCH MORE AGGRESSIVE IN THEIR TACTICS TO GET THE PRODUCT OUT OF THE STORES.

SO NOT ONLY DO WE WORRY ABOUT THE FINANCIALS, BUT WE WORRY ABOUT THE SAFETY IMPACT ON CUSTOMERS AND ASSOCIATES, AS WELL.

>> I WANT TO COME BACK WITH SOME OF THAT SINK THE IMPACT THAT YOU MENTIONED.

ATTORNEY GENERAL, WHAT ARE THE ELECTED -- WERE THEY DOING WITH THESE GOODS ONCE THEY'VE STOLEN THEM?

IT WOULD BE FAIRLY EASY TO MOVE THEM AROUND AND SELL THEM.

>> FREQUENTLY THE PEOPLE CARRYING OUT THE ACTS ARE NOT THE HEADS OF THE ENTERPRISE.

THEY ARE, FOR INSTANCE, WE HAVE CRACKED DOWN ON TWO SCHEMES THAT USE DRUG ADDICTS AND WE PAID THEM WITH -- SOME INSTANCES, DRUGS TO STEAL THE ITEMS AND THEN THEY WERE RESOLD ON FACEBOOK, WE GOT ONE THAT WAS SELLING ON FACEBOOK MARKETPLACE.

ANOTHER GROUP THAT WAS -- IN PAWNSHOPS.

ONE OF THE GROUPS HAD A FORMER POLICE CHIEF AS PART OF THE CRIMINAL RING.

>> YOU MENTION SOMETIMES OUTSIDE YOUR JURISDICTION.

ARE THESE BEING SOLD OUT OF THE REGION, FOR EXAMPLE?

ARE THEY BEING SHIPPED OUT?

>> THE EASIEST PLATFORM FOR THEM TO SELL IS ON ONLINE MARKETPLACES.

AMAZON, FACEBOOK.

eBAY.

SO ONE OF THE -- THEY ORGANIZE A TASK FORCE WE CALL IN THE VARIOUS PLATFORMS AND WE'VE BEEN TRYING, THE BEST POSSIBLE COLLABORATION ON THOSE PLATFORMS, SOME MORE SUCCESSFUL THAN OTHERS TO GET THEM FOCUSED ON CRACKING DOWN AGAINST CRIMINAL ACTIVITY THAT FOCUSES ON RETAIL, ESTABLISHMENTS.

BIG BOXES LIKE HOME DEPOT OR WALGREENS OR SMALL MOM-AND-POP RETAIL -- THEY HAD ALL OF THESE BRICK-AND-MORTAR RETAIL .

AND THEY RESELL IT ONLINE.

>> SCOTT GLENN, YOU MENTION STAFF SAFETY AND HOW THAT WORKS FOR YOU ALL.

HOW DO YOU ADVISE YOUR STAFF TO HANDLE IT?

>> WE DO A COUPLE OF THINGS.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE TEACH ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES HOW TO DE-ESCALATE AN INTENSE SITUATION IN THE STORE, WHETHER IT'S CRIMINAL ACTIVITY OR SOME OTHER TYPE OF CONFLICT IN THE STORE, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHAT WE DO IS WE ASK OUR ASSOCIATES TO REPORT WHAT THEY SEE TO COLLECT AS MUCH DETAIL AS THEY CAN AND THEN BRING THAT INFORMATION BACK TO US AND OUR ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME TEAM SO THAT WE CAN COORDINATE THE ACTIVITY AND LINK THESE CASES TOGETHER ON THE BACKSIDE OF IT.

WE ABSOLUTELY DO NOT WANT OUR ASSOCIATES IN ANY WAY TO GET INVOLVED IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES IN STORES.

>> SCOTT, YOU KNOW, HOW HAS HOME DEPOT GONE ABOUT TACKLING THIS ISSUE?

I'VE HEARD THAT YOU HAVE USED SOME HIGH-TECH APPROACHES.

I'M SURE YOU ARE LIMITED TO WHAT YOU WANT TO GIVE AWAY HERE, BUT HOW ARE YOU HANDLING IT?

>> SURE.

THANKS FOR THE QUESTION.

I WOULD SAY WE HAVE DONE EVERYTHING FROM -- CAN DO TO SOME OF THE HIGHEST TEXT AVAILABLE.

THERE'S A SPECTRUM OF EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN AND EVERYTHING'S ON THE TABLE RIGHT NOW.

WE PUT THINGS BEHIND BARRIERS.

WE'VE ACTUALLY LOCKED PRODUCTS UP AND IT WAS REALLY KIND OF UNTHINKABLE FIVE YEARS AGO, I WOULD SAY.

BUT THEN AGAIN, THERE'S A LOT OF NEW TECHNOLOGY COMING OUT.

A.I., MACHINE LEARNING, REALLY ENHANCE CAMERA SYSTEMS.

ALL THOSE KIND OF DIFFERENT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO US AND YOU ARE TESTING AND LEARNING AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WORKS BEST.

>> ATTORNEY GENERAL , YOU ALL IN 2021, YOU CREATED A TASK FORCE TO TACKLE ORGANIZED RETAIL THEFT.

IS IT HAVING AN IMPACT?

>> I THINK IT IS.

WE COLLABORATED AND WITH HOME DEPOT , SINCE WE WORKED WITH LOSS PREVENTION SPECIALIST AT HOME DEPOT TO TRACK A MAN WHO WE'VE ALSO WENT TO LEGISLATURE .

WE'VE GOT A GRANT TO BE ABLE TO FUND THE LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENTS EFFORTS FOCUSING ON ORGANIZED RETAIL.

WHERE THEY HAVE RECOVERED OVER $1.2 MILLION AND THE STOLEN MERCHANDISE AND IT'S GOTTEN OCCUPANCY, WE'VE ALSO FUNDED THE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE THAT'S BEEN HELPING DOWNTOWN AND RIVER NORTH.

100 ARRESTS IN THREE MONTHS.

>> ACCORDING TO CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT ARREST DATA, AS YOU EXPECT, ARREST PLUMMETED WITH THE ONSET OF THE PANDEMIC AS MANY WORK FORCE TO CLOSE BUT ARREST LEVELS HAVE NOT QUITE RETURN TO THOSE PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS.

YOU SEE THE DROP OFF HERE IN THE GRAPH.

IS THIS A SIGN THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT IS NOT TAKING THE ISSUE SERIOUSLY ENOUGH OR DO YOU THINK THERE IS MORE THEY COULD BE DOING TO TACKLE THIS?

>> IT'S A COUPLE OF THINGS.

FIRST WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE A GREAT PARTNER.

A NATIONAL LEADER, NOT JUST IN THE CITY, BUT ON THE STATE.

SECOND, COLLABORATING AND PASSING THE LAW, BUT THE PIECES ARE STILL COMING TOGETHER.

WATCHING TO D.C.

COPIED THE IMPORTANT ACTS WE PASSED HERE.

THEY ARE STILL PUTTING THEM IN PLACE.

THERE ARE PIECES STILL COMING TOGETHER.

THERE IS ATTENTION PARTICULARLY IN CHICAGO WHERE YOU CAN'T NECESSARILY BLAME RANKIN FILE -- IF THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE PROSECUTED.

IT HAS TO BE OVERCOME HERE AND IT'S A COLLABORATION THAT MIGHT WORK , AS WELL, IN ADDITION TO THE LAW THAT WILL PASS WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

SOME ADDITIONAL POWERS AS WELL AS ESTATE ATTORNEYS.

AGAIN, THAT ALL COMES ONLINE.

>> WE DID MENTION.

WE SHOULD MENTION THAT WE DID INVITE THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE COOK COUNTY -- THEY COULD NOT JOIN US.

>> THEY BEEN CRITICIZED FOR RAISING THE BAR FOR FELONY CONVICTIONS TO $1000 FROM $5000 FOR SHOPLIFTING.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT AND WHAT -- >> EVERYWHERE THIS IS BEEN A PROBLEM.

INDISPUTABLE FACT.

THE VALUE OF THE GOODS HAS BEEN INCREASED.

WE DON'T LIKE TO THINK THEY ARE, BUT THEY DO.

THEY ARE SMART ENOUGH TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO WORK AROUND IT.

THE THRESHOLD IS AND HOW TO GAIN THAT THRESHOLD AND WE SEEN STATISTICS, REPUTABLE STATISTICS AS WELL.

WE ARE ALSO NOT CAUGHT UNTIL THE 10th, 11, 12 TIME THAT THEY HAVE ACTUALLY STOLEN SOMETHING.

THEY ARE GETTING RID OF AN AWFUL LOT BEFORE WE EVEN THOUGHT.

INCREASING THAT THRESHOLD HAS A DEMONSTRABLE IMPACT IN TERMS OF ENCOURAGING.

>> IS THERE ANYTHING MORE YOU THINK LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN DO?

>> I THINK WHAT I WOULD WANT TO SAY IS IN THE ACT THAT WE PASS, DISTINGUISH ORDINARY RETAIL THEFT, WE GO AFTER THE CONCERTED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY THAT YOU SEE 20 PEOPLE GO IN TO THE STORE AT THE SAME TIME SO WHILE YOU MAY HAVE ONLY STOLEN ONE THING UNDER THE THRESHOLD, YOU COULD BE CHARGED WITH A FELONY BECAUSE YOU ACTED IN CONCERT AND I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT TOOL TO CRACKDOWN ON.

>> THAT DISTINCTION.

WILL HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE BUT THANKS TO ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL, KWAME RAOUL, ROB CARR, AND SCOTT.

>>> UP NEXT, WHAT'S DRIVING THE DRIVE IN CAR THEFT?

STAY WITH US .

>>> BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU PARK YOUR CAR, IT MIGHT NOT BE THERE WHEN YOU COME BACK.

THAT IS BECAUSE CHICAGO, LIKE MUCH OF THE NATION HE SEEING AN ASTRONOMICAL RISE IN CAR THEFTS SINCE 2020 WITH NO LET UP IN SIGHT.

THE CHICAGO POLICE HAVE LINKS RECENT ROBBERY SPREES TO STOLEN VEHICLES.

THIS COMES AS CARMAKERS KIA AND HYUNDAI FACE -- FOR THEIR CARS.

WE SET OUT TO FIND WHAT ACCELERATING THIS CITYWIDE CRISIS.

>> SO FIRST OF ALL, YOU CAN SEE THAT IT'S PRETTY MUCH BROKEN WITH THE GLASS RIGHT THERE.

THERE'S PROBABLY SOME INSIDE THE VEHICLE ON THE FLOOR OR THE SEAT.

>> Reporter: RUNS THE STOLEN CAR DIRECTORY, A VOLUNTEER EFFORT TO LOCATE STOLEN VEHICLES AND ALERT OWNERS ON THE FACEBOOK PAGE.

HE FOUND THIS STOLEN HYUNDAI IN AN ALLEY NEAR THE INTERSECTION NEAR NORTH AVENUE AND CICERO .

ALL IT TOOK WAS A SCREWDRIVER IN A USB CORD TO START THE CAR.

>> SEE THAT LITTLE NOTCH?

>> THAT LITTLE MIDDLE THING GOES INSIDE THE USB ADAPTER.

AND THEN IT TURNS RIGHT OVER.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS HE SPENT SEVERAL HOURS A WEEK SCOURING ALLEYWAYS, EMPTY LOTS, AND SIDE STREETS OF THE WEST AND NORTHWEST SIDES FOR STOLEN VEHICLES AND SAYS THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN TELLS .

>> BROKEN BACK WINDOWS, HOW LONG THEY HAVE BEEN THERE FOR, SOMETIMES, YOU WILL SEE A CAR PARK SOMEWHERE FOR OVER , I DON'T KNOW, A MONTH?

>> Reporter: WHEN HE FINDS A VEHICLE THAT LOOKS SUSPICIOUS, HE WILL RUN THE PLATE TO THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT STOLEN CAR DATA PLACE.

>> STOLEN PLAY, SEE.

>> Reporter: AND HE'S FAIRLY BUSY THESE DAYS.

CPD CRIME STATISTICS SHOW A RISE IN CAR THEFTS, TWO MORE THAN 21,000 LAST YEAR.

THAT IS A 139% SPIKE IN JUST THREE YEARS.

THIS YEAR'S NUMBERS ARE ON TRACK TO BE EVEN HIGHER.

>> IT LOOKS MOST LIKELY THAT THOSE ARE GOING TO BE KIA OR HYUNDAI.

NOT ALL MODELS BUT CERTAIN YEARS AND MAKES ARE VULNERABLE TO THEFTS.

>> Reporter: ERNESTO LOPEZ IS A RESEARCH SPECIALIST FOR THE COUNCIL ON CRIMINAL SUSPECTS.

HE SAYS CHICAGO'S SPIKE NEARS A NATIONWIDE TREND, WHICH MIGHT HAVE BEEN SPARKED BY A VIRAL TIKTOK VIDEO.

>> THAT TIKTOK CHALLENGE, HOW TO STEAL KEYS FROM KEYS IN HYUNDAI'S.

THAT WAS A BIG THING.

WE HAVE NOTHING TO DO, WE ARE OUT OF SCHOOL FOR COVID, WE MIGHT AS WELL.

>> Reporter: BUT OTHER MAKES AND MODELS ARE VULNERABLE, TOO.

CRIME STATISTICS SHOW THAT NO CORNER OF THE CITY IS SAFE.

LAST DECEMBER, BINA DAVID, A PROFESSIONAL SINGER, LEFT HER CAR PARKED BEFORE EIGHT MUSIC -- WHEN SHE CAME BACK, THE CAR WAS GONE.

>> IT WAS COMPLETELY GONE AND I KNEW EXACTLY WHERE I PARKED IT.

>> Reporter: WHAT WAS THE FIRST THING THAT WOULD BE YOUR MIND WHEN YOU SAW THAT?

>> DISBELIEF.

I LITERALLY HAD BEEN MOUTH AGAPE.

>> Reporter: DAVID DOCUMENTED HER PROBLEMS ON TIKTOK.

MONTHS AFTER RECLAIMING FULL INCH -- AUTO IMPOUND LOT IN HAMMOND, INDIANA.

SHE WENT TO SEE WHAT SHAPE THE CAR WAS IN.

>> THERE IS GOT IN HERE!

THERE WAS A RIFLE IN THERE.

THE SADDEST THING WAS CHILDREN'S DVDS AND JUICE BOXES IN THERE.

>> JOYRIDING OR EVEN BEING SOLD.

>> Reporter: ACCORDING TO CPD STATISTICS, MOST SUSPECTS GET AWAY FROM THE INITIAL CRIME.

LAST YEAR, THE CLEARANCE RATE FOR SOLVING MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT WAS A PALTRY 4%.

SOURCES CLOSE TO CPD SAY THE DEPARTMENT DEEMPHASIZES SOLVING THESE CRIMES , AND DEVOTE MORE RESOURCES TO MORE SERIOUS CRIMES.

MOTORS CAN DO A FEW THINGS TO PROTECT THEIR CARS.

BY AN ALARM, A CONVERSION FROM KEY TO PUSHBUTTON STARTER, OR JUST GET AN OLD-FASHIONED CLUB.

>> IT'S THE KIND OF PROTECTION -- >> BINA DAVID HAS SINCE REPLACED HER VEHICLE AND PARKED IN THE SAME GARAGE AND SAYS HER LUCK HAS NOT IMPROVED.

>> WHEN I CAME BACK, THE GLOVE BACKS HAD BEEN OPENED BUT NOTHING WAS MISSING EXCEPT FOR MY HOMEMADE LUNCH.

>> Reporter: TELL ME WHAT THAT WAS.

>> CHICKEN CURRY IN A HANDFUL OF CHERRIES .

>> Reporter: HE SAYS HE WILL STAY ON THE PROWL INTO LAW ENFORCEMENT PUTS MORE EMPHASIS ON SOLVING THESE CRIMES.

>> I STILL HAVE TO PAY BILLS, SO BASICALLY IT'S NOT MY FORM OF INCOME.

I WISH IT WAS.

>> Reporter: WHAT YOU DO IT THEN?

>> I DON'T LIKE SEEING STOLEN CARS.

PEOPLE NEED THEM .

>> AND NONPROFIT CALLED THE NATIONAL INSURANCE PRIME BUREAU OFFERS THIS ADVICE TO THOSE WHO HAVE HAD THEIR SCARS STOLEN.

ONE REPORT LEFT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT ON THE DAY YOU DISCOVER THE CAR IS GONE.

USE THE POLICE REPORT TO SOME OF THE CLAIM TO YOUR INSURED TO GET REIMBURSEMENT AND BE PREPARED TO HAVE THE MAKE, MODEL, LICENSE PLATE NUMBER AND PIN NUMBER HANDY.

THEY DECLINED OUR REQUEST TO PARTICIPATE IN THE STORY.

>>> CAR THEFT IS FRUSTRATING ENOUGH, BUT THERE'S ANOTHER VEHICULAR CRIME THAT INDUCES FAR MORE FEAR AND THAT IS OF COURSE CARJACKING.

RIGHT NOW, CHICAGO IS THE TRIPLE THE NUMBER OF CARJACKINGS FROM A DECADE AGO AND HAS MORE INCIDENTS REPORTED THAT ANY CITY IN THE COUNTRY.

HERE TO DISCUSS THIS IS CAPTAIN DAVID KELTNER OF THE ILLINOIS STATE POLICE.

CAPTAIN KELTNER, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

WHAT IS IT TELLING YOU ABOUT THE RATE OF CARJACKINGS IN CHICAGO AND THROUGHOUT THE STATE?

>> WE SEEN AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CARJACKINGS AND ALSO VEHICLE THEFTS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE.

WE'VE ALSO SEEN A LARGE INCREASE IN ARRESTS SOME HARD WORK FROM THE ILLINOIS STATE POLICE AND OTHER POLICE PARTNERS COMING TOGETHER TO MAKE SOME OF THOSE ARRESTS.

>> AND WITH CAR THEFTS, WE SAW JUST BEFORE COVID, THIS RISE BEGAN TO WHERE WE ARE AT NOW.

SEEING CARJACKING.

>> WE SAW AN INCREASE IN 2021 .

IT WAS A BIG NOTICEABLE INCREASE THAT WE SAW.

IT HAS BEEN AN UPTICK FOR THE LAST 18 MONTHS.

>> ARE YOU SAYING THERE'S ENOUGH FOR AN ARREST, AS WELL?

>> WHAT ARE THE TOOLS AND TACTICS BEING USED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT TO STOP THIS?

>> NUNNALLY JUST THE TRAINING, OR STATE TROOPERS IN THE PARTNERS.

INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION AND SHARING HAVE INCREASED AND BEEN A BIG PUSH SINCE LAST YEAR.

IT'S BEEN AN EXTREME FOCUS ON UTILIZATION OF TECHNOLOGY TO PINPOINT RESPONDING TO CRIMES AND TAKEN PLACE.

UTILIZATION OF OUR CANINE PARTNERS IN OUR HANDLERS.

THE USE OF THE TRAINING -- SOMETIMES CALLED TECHNIQUE, THE USE OF STICKS IN THOSE PROCEEDS, OUR AIR SUPPORT HAS BEEN HUGE.

THERE'S BEEN AN EXPANSION GOING ON WITH THAT CURRENTLY.

UTILIZATION OF PR GOES ALONG WITH IT TO BE ABLE TO SIGN THOSE HOTSPOTS AND VEHICLES .

>> I KNOW THAT THERE'S SOME PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLIES PASS RECENTLY.

TO THE STATE POLICE TO -- WELL HALF OF THIS WILL GO TO THE STATE POLICE.

SO GIVE US AN OVERVIEW OF HOW THIS ADDITIONAL RESOURCES WILL BE SPENT.

>> AS WE JUST MENTIONED, SOME OF THOSE THINGS HAVE BEEN WORKING WELL FOR US.

WE ARE GETTING A LARGE PORTION OF IT UNDER HALF.

AND THOSE WILL BE UTILIZED TO EXPAND THOSE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE SEEN WORK FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.

MAKE THOSE SPECIAL ARREST THAT WE ARE TRYING TO WITH THE HIJACKINGS .

AGAIN, EXPANSION OF ALL THESE PROGRAMS.

IT'S HUGE FOR US TO TRY TO SAFELY ENCOUNTER THOSE VEHICLES AND MAKE ARRESTS, ALONG WITH ALL THOSE -- AS FAR AS CANINES AN ADDITIONAL STOP STICKS, ADDITIONAL TRAINING GOES A LONG WAY.

NOT JUST IN THE MIDDLE OF DOWNTOWN.

THOSE INTERSTATES NEAR THE INTERCHANGE, BUT TO EXPAND FURTHER INTO THE OTHER COUNTIES .

>> WE SEE WITH THE CAR THEFTS, KIA AND HYUNDAI HAVING ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS.

NOT JUST HERE BUT ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

IS THIS TRUE FOR CARJACKINGS, TOO?

THE EASE WITH WHICH THEY CAN KIND OF JUST TAKE A SCREWDRIVER AND A USB CORD AND START THE CARD?

>> WE DO SEE A LOT OF OUR -- I SAY BASICS THEFT OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT ENCOUNTERING AN OWNER WITH A KEY FOB TO START THE VEHICLE.

YOU SEE A LOT OF THAT WERE WE HAVE SEEN THEM A LOT WITH THE KEY IS IN THE HYUNDAI'S.

WE SEE AND WE FEEL A LOT OF CARJACKINGS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN ALL TYPES OF VEHICLES.

JUST THE BASIC VEHICLES THAT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITIES, STORES OR GAS STATIONS OR WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THAT VEHICLE .

>> BEFORE WE GO HERE, TO SOME TIPS FOR MOTORISTS HERE TO STAY SAFE.

>> JUST WANT TO REMIND CITIZENS THAT YOU SHOULD ALWAYS LOCK YOUR DOORS.

LIMITING ANY ACCESS TO THE GARAGES .

SO NO ONE CAN MAKE THEIR WAY IN TO THE VEHICLES.

AGAIN, WE TALK ABOUT THE KEY FOBS NEEDS TO BE REPROGRAMMED SO THOSE NEED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF IN YOUR VEHICLES.

PUT YOUR PHONES AND DEVICES AWAY .

ALWAYS BE ALERT OF ANY SUSPICIOUS PERSONS OR ACTIVITY YOU'RE GETTING GAS OR WHEN YOU ARE OUT OF YOUR CAR IN A STORE OR IN A PARKING PLACE OR GARAGE.

SCAN THE AREA BEFOREHAND.

DON'T BE AFRAID -- IF YOU HAVE THAT INKLING OR THE HAIR ON YOUR BACK OF YOUR NECK STANDING UP, IF YOU DON'T WANT TO PARK THERE, YOU CAN SAFELY GET AWAY FROM THAT SITUATION.

GO AHEAD AND DO THAT.

AT THE NEAREST TIME THAT YOU CAN, MAKE SURE YOU ARE NOTIFYING THE POLICE SO WE CAN RESPOND QUICKLY TO THE AREA.

>> GOOD RULES TO KEEP IN MIND.

CAPTAIN DAVID KELTNER OF THE ILLINOIS STATE POLICE.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU, SIR.

>> WE ARE BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS MONDAY NIGHT.

JOIN US AGAIN NEXT MONDAY FOR THE LAST PROGRAM IN THE SERIES AND BE SURE TO FOLLOW OUR ONGOING COVERAGE ONLINE.

DON'T FORGET TO STAY CONNECTED WITH US BY SIGNING UP FOR OUR DAILY BRIEFING AND YOU CAN GET CHICAGO TONIGHT STREAMED ON FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE, AND OUR WEBSITE, WTTV.COM .

>> YOU CAN ALSO GET THE SHOW BE A PODCAST IN THE PBS VIDEO APP.

JOIN US TOMORROW AT 5:30 AND 10:00.

>> FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT, I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

>> AND I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

STAY SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD EVENING .

>> CLOSE CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A CLIFFORD AND CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES, A