Categories: AUTOMOTIVE

Dude Where’s My Car?… What To Do When Your Car is Stolen

There is nothing more frustrating than walking outside in the morning to go to work or coming out of a restaurant after a good meal, only to discover that your car isn’t where you left it. The FBI reports that more than one million cars are stolen every year in the United States (fbi.gov) and because the technology is making it easier to stay under the radar, that number will only continue to climb. Even worse, the chances of the police finding your stolen car are slim to none.

When your car is stolen, your first instinct is likely to panic or to call a loved one. You might be thinking about the fact that you left your laptop under the seat or perhaps you’re wondering if you should have cleaned out the garage last summer for safer vehicle storage. Whatever the case, it is extremely important that you act right away when your car is stolen.

First, you need to call your local law enforcement agency to report the vehicle theft. When your car is stolen, the police will want to come to your location – whether you’re at home or away – in order to take a detailed report. The more information you can provide them, the better, and you should know that the chances of finding your stolen vehicle increase if you can report the theft quickly.

The police will ask for basic information about your stolen car:

Make & Model
License Plate Number
Exterior & Interior Damage
Color & Specifications
Insurance Information
Distinguishing Marks and/or Factor

It will be helpful if you can provide the police with a photograph of your car, regardless of the quality. A visual depiction of the stolen car will help police officers in your area to be on the look-out for any vehicles that resemble it.

Once you’ve given the police all of the information they request, your next step should be to call your insurance company. They’ll want the same basic information as the police, as well as the location of any keys and the names of individuals who have access to your car. You should also prepare a detailed list of any items that might have been stored in your vehicle, such as CD’s, electronic equipment, floor mats, jumper cables, tools and anything else you can think of. Some insurance companies will reimburse you for the full value of those items while others will only give partial reimbursements.

If you still owe money when your car is stolen, you will need to make a separate call to the financial institution with whom you have financed the car. They will probably want to speak directly with your insurance company, but you should answer any questions they have.

In all likelihood, both your insurance company and leasing company will need copies of the police report you filed. If you neglect to call the police, your chances of getting your claim approved decrease considerably. Make sure to ask the police where you can obtain copies of the police report (usually at the local court house).

And finally, make sure that you don’t become a vigilante when your car is stolen. Searching for your stolen vehicle on the street can prove extremely dangerous and is better left to law enforcement. If, however, you do find your car after you’ve reported it stolen, don’t immediately approach it. Instead, use your cell phone or a nearby pay phone to report your findings to the police. You have to realize that the thief might not be very far away and you don’t want to risk a confrontation. Furthermore, the police are more likely to make an arrest if you don’t disturb the situation.

In the future, you can prevent your car from being stolen by following basic precautionary procedures. For example, try to store your car in a garage or in a safe location rather than in the driveway or on the street. You can purchase after-market alarm systems and other anti-theft devices to deter potential thieves, and try not to leave your car in dark parking lots for extended periods of time.