Illinois ranks 3rd-worst in US for vehicle thefts. How does Belleville compare?
Illinois reported the third-highest number of stolen vehicles in the U.S. last year, with more than 28,000 thefts statewide. While national theft rates have seen a “historic decline,” certain car models remain prime targets for thieves.
FULL STORY: Illinois named 3rd-worst state for vehicle thefts. These 10 models are most stolen
Here are key takeaways:
- Illinois reported 28,327 vehicle thefts in 2025, with the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro area accounting for 24,299 of them — ranking third nationally among metro areas.
- The Hyundai Elantra topped the list of most-stolen vehicles in Illinois with 1,125 thefts, followed by the Jeep Grand Cherokee (1,047) and Hyundai Sonata (914).
- Vehicle theft rates dropped 18% in Illinois from 2024 to 2025, while the national rate fell 23% over the same period.
- Belleville saw thefts decline from 181 in 2023 to 89 in 2025, with 26 reported through April of this year.
- The NHTSA recommends locking doors, closing windows, parking in well-lit areas and installing anti-theft devices such as alarms or steering wheel locks to reduce risk.
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by journalists.
Meredith Howard
Belleville News-Democrat