>>> NOW TO A WTTW NEWS EXCLUSIVE.

THE CITY STILL FACES A CRISIS TO FIGHT EFFORTS TO CRACK DOWN ON CARJACKING.

THE SHERIFF ESTIMATES UP TO 1600 CARJACKINGS WILL HAPPEN THIS YEAR.

WTTW'S JOANA HERNANDEZ HAS EFFORTS ON COMBATING THE CRIME.

>> A SPECIAL TASK FORCE EXPANDED IN 2021.

MANY FACTORS CONTRIBUTED TO THE CARJACKING.

ONE THING I LEARNED ON THE RIDE ALONG IS STOPPING AND FINDING CARJACKERS BEFORE THE VEHICLE IS USED TO COMMIT OTHER CRIMES.

>>> A HOT SUMMER DAY IN CHICAGO.

THE TASK FORCE IS ON A MISSION.

>> THEIR EYES IN THE SKY AND CAMERAS ROLLING AS DEPUTIES AND THE TEAM TRACK DOWN A STOLEN VEHICLE.

>> ON THE STEVENSON HEADING SOUTHBOUND.

>> THE SUSPECTS SEEM TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE ON TO THEM .

>> THEY NAVIGATE THE STREETS KNOWING EVERY SECOND COUNTS WHEN TRYING TO CATCH THE DRIVER OF A STOLEN VEHICLE .

>> WE MAKE IT TO THE LOCATION WHERE POLICE UNITS SURROUND A STOLEN LEXUS.

ONLY THIS TIME, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER MANAGED TO ESCAPE ON FOOT.

>> THE VEHICLE IS WANTED FOR OTHER STUFF.

>> CARJACKINGS ARE TERRIFYING, DANGEROUS AND CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE.

WE GOT A RARE INSIDE LOOK AT A TASK FORCE WORKING TO STOP IT.

WE STOPPED AT THE COMMAND CENTER WHERE THE DEPUTY WHO WAS A FORMER RADIO HOST, WORKS IN A PRIME ANALYTICS DATABASE TRACKING PATTERNS OF CARJACKINGS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

>> WE HAVE INVESTIGATORS WHO ARE ON 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, WHO ARE LOOKING FOR OTHER FELONY VEHICLES .

>> ACCORDING TO THE POLICE CARJACKING DASHBOARD, NEARLY 42% OF CARJACKINGS HAPPEN CURBSIDE.

31% ON THE STREETS AND 6% AT GAS STATIONS.

OFTEN, CRIMINALS AMBUSH A VICTIM ON FOOT.

>> IT HAPPENS DOWNTOWN AND IT HAPPENS A LOT ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE OF.

>> FAR MORE ON THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDE.

IT IS REALLY IMPACTING THE COMMUNITIES WHERE PEOPLE CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE THEIR CARS STOLEN.

>> WE PUT ON A BULLET PROOF VEST AND TO THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATION, THE 911 CENTER.

>> YOU WILL HEAR ALL THE VEHICLES THAT ARE BEING TRACKED.

>> THE VEHICULAR HIJACKINGS WHAT IS A TEAM OF ILLINOIS STATE POLICE, CHICAGO POLICE, THE SHERIFF AND THE FBI.

THE COOK COUNTY SHERIFF HAS BEEN WORKING TO CONTROL THE PROBLEM RECENTLY A BILL HE INITIATED PAST INTO LAW TO LOCATE HIJACKED CARS THEIR PROGRAMS RUN BY AUTOMAKERS.

>> IT REQUIRES A 24 HOUR HOTLINE.

WHEN CARJACKING OCCURS, WE CAN IMMEDIATELY GET TRACKING GOING AND WE WILL GET MOST OF THE HURDLES THAT ARE OUT THERE NOW .

>> BACK ON THE STREET, DEPUTIES TAKE US ON THE NEXT MISSION.

>> WE ARE GOING TO THE WEST SIDE WHERE U-HAUL VAN HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN SOME INCIDENTS.

>> THE TEAM CONTINUES TO FOLLOW LEADS AS THE NIGHT GOES ON.

>> WE ARE ABLE TO GET ANOTHER POLICE AGENCY INFORMATION HE WAS LOOKING FOR THIS CAR .

>> THIS TIME, THE DRIVER OF THE CAR BEING TRACKED IS SUSPECTED OF BEING INVOLVED IN A VIOLENT CRIME AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO CAMPUS.

>> OUR GUYS ARE ON IT.

>> WITHOUT HELICOPTER SUPPORT, THE TEAM DEPENDS ON PLATE READERS TO PINPOINT THE HIJACKER'S PATH.

>> THE VEHICLE DRIVES RIGHT PAST US.

THE DEBBIE DECIDES NOT TO CHASE THE SUSPECT FOR SAFETY REASONS.

>> HE KNOWS THERE ARE PEOPLE ON HIM.

SO HE TOOK OFF.

THERE IS A LOT OF THAT WERE THEY WANT TO GO THE OTHER WAY.

>> >> SIX HOURS INTO THE MISSION AND THEY CALL IT A NIGHT .

>> WE HAVE HAD MINIMAL AIR SUPPORT.

WE STILL WERE ABLE TO RECOVER SOME VEHICLES THAT HAD BEEN STOLEN.

WE HAVE LEADS ON OTHER VEHICLES AS WELL.

ALL IN ALL, IT WAS A FAIR NIGHT.

>> LAST YEAR, THE COOK COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ROLLED OUT A PROGRAM WHERE DRIVERS CAN REGISTER THEIR VEHICLES IN THE SHERIFF'S DATABASE.

THAT WAY IF THE DRIVER IS A VICTIM OF CARJACKING, LAW ENFORCEMENT WILL HAVE FASTER ACCESS TO FIND THE CAR.

THIS IS JUST ONE OF MANY STRATEGIES TO COMBAT THIS ONGOING PROBLEM.

>> YOU MENTIONED THERE WILL BE NEW LEGISLATION.

ALREADY TAKING EFFECT AND A 24 HOUR HOTLINE.

>> THIS IS SET TO START NEXT YEAR.

THE REASON WHY THE PUSH THIS TO HAPPEN WAS, LET'S SAY YOU ARE A VICTIM OF A CARJACKING AND YOU DON'T KNOW YOUR LICENSE PLATE.

SO LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS TO CALL AUTOMAKERS AND OFTEN GO THROUGH HURDLES BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO GIVE THEN THE LICENSE PLATE.

OR THE AUTO COMPANY IS CLOSED.