CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The Cook County Sheriff's Office announced new efforts to stop the rise in recent carjackings.
Carjackings in Cook County are up by 43 percent compared to last year. Looking to curb the trend from all sides, Sheriff Tom Dart is now turning to car manufacturers for help.
"We know factually that when cars are being tracked, it makes it easier not only to catch people, arrest people, prosecute people, but it deters people," he said.
Dart said most vehicles sold after 2015 have the ability to be tracked, but some automakers are more cooperative than others.
"Some dealers only operate nine to five weekdays. Other ones sit there and say we need a consent from the actual owner," he explained. "The owner is not there at that point in time."
Dr. Stephanie Davis experienced the frustration first-hand. She was the victim of a carjacking at a gas station in Harvey on Sept. 17.
"He grabbed the corner of my door with his left hand...and produced a handgun and placed it against the left side of my skull," said Davis.
When police arrived, they told her to call the carmaker and track the vehicle.
"I tried with the auto company and the dealership but I was told the car couldn't be tracked," she added.
"When we go about attempting to get that information, I cannot begin to explain to you the difficulties that are involved in doing that," said Dart. "And the clock is ticking and that car is being used on other crimes."
In Davis' case, her stolen car was used during another carjacking in Elmhurst and an ATM robbery in Riverdale.
Dart sent a letter to 11 manufacturers asking for their collaboration. In the meantime, Cook County residents can go online download and sign a consent order, "which would allow us to be able to get your tracking data quicker," he said.
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