Armed Suspects Steal Car In Elmhurst Neighborhood: Cops

ELMHURST, IL — Armed suspects stole a vehicle early Monday morning in an Elmhurst neighborhood, using new technology to start it, police said.

In surveillance video, three people are seen stealing the vehicle about 5 a.m., with two of them holding what appears to be handguns, police said in a news release. A third person is using what seems to be a vehicle reprogramming tablet to remotely start the car, police said. The people are seen in the video driving away in the stolen vehicle and the one they arrived in.

The stolen vehicle was a black 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT, with Illinois registration CZ42124. The theft took place at a house near Church Street and Poplar Avenue, police said.

Nationwide, more car thieves are using reprogramming tablets to remotely access Jeep and Dodge vehicles, police said. They target Jeep Grand Cherokees, Dodge Challengers, Chargers and Durangos, specifically SRT, Trackhawk and Hellcat performance models, the news release said.

Anyone with information about the theft is asked to call the police department at 630-530-3050.

Elmhurst police are advising residents to lock their car doors and park in well-lit areas. Owners of targeted vehicles should secure their vehicles in enclosed garages when available and consider motion sensor lights on their properties, police said.