You’re getting off of work one night and, you go to the parking lot, and the next thing you know, you realize your vehicle has been stolen. You checked the parking lot everywhere, the impound lot, and even your local police station, but there’s no sign of your car anywhere. While this may seem like a bad joke, car theft is a serious crime that affects thousands of drivers every year. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), out of $8 billion in total property loss due to theft in 2004, $2.3 billion was due to car theft alone.
How to Get Your Property Back
Unfortunately, it is extremely difficult to get a car stolen back. In fact, according to Consumer Reports, it is a whole lot easier to steal a car than it is to get it back. If you recently had a car stolen, it is important to act quickly to get your vehicle back. Unfortunately, trying to find a stolen car can be a frustrating process. Whether you live in an area with a high crime rate or you just do not want to waste time looking for a car, you should be prepared with a plan in place for getting your car back. However, the best place to start is to see if the car has a built-in tracking device like GPS. Contact your insurance company to see if you have comprehensive car insurance and ask the insurance provider if they have a way to track the car with GPS.
Get ready to file a police report.
Whether your car was stolen overnight or in broad daylight, your local police station is the best place to file a report and find your car. But first, examine the vehicles’ original parking spot for any signs of the theft that might be visible to you. Did the car have a smashed window? Were there any witnesses? Were any camera systems nearby? Document all this evidence and the vehicle’s location by taking pictures or video of the car’s last known location as it was on the street. Then if you are certain your car was stolen, take all this documented evidence to the local police department and file a report.
Determine the make, model, and license plate number of your vehicle.
Before you start the search, make sure you know the make, model, and license plate number of your car. That’s what will be listed on the report you submit to the police after the theft. You should always have a picture of your car’s license plate, along with the vehicle identification and extra registration in a safe place to refer back to.
How to find your stolen car?
Walk the neighborhood looking for your vehicle, use vehicle locators call your car insurance company. Fortunately, you can usually get your car back after it’s been stolen. Depending on the kind of car, there are a few different options that can get your vehicle back. But how do you go about getting it back? First things first: Walk around the neighborhood and see if your car is close by. Bring several pictures of the vehicle along with proof of ownership, you can put up pictures on telephone poles, and signs where permitted, and have proof if you do see the vehicle.
The most reliable methods for locating a stolen vehicle.
Don’t fret! Getting your car back is not as hard as you think. While you may be missing that $20,000 Corvette, you can still get your car back with these three proven methods. 1. Take it to the police station: They may not return the car to you at first, but take them to the car lot and they will likely return your car to you for free. The police station may even file a report for you to make sure that you get a good case. 2. Turn in your keys: You can easily pick up the spare key in a parking lot or an unattended car in your neighborhood. Next, take the spare key and put it in your glove compartment, where it will be hard to find. If you leave the spare key in your car while it’s in the parking lot, a thief can just steal the spare.
Get some quotes from a lawyer.
Your best defense against car theft is a skilled lawyer. Many attorney firms offer a car theft recovery service in addition to their standard services, which include everything from divorce to personal injury to personal injury. Working with a qualified attorney on your case is one of the most important steps you can take to recover your stolen vehicle. Invest in Auto Monitoring To track your vehicle, you need an app. Many apps on the market provide this functionality for less than $50 a month. Invest in a reliable system to monitor your car and, in the event that it is stolen, the system will let you know.
Purchase a surveillance device.
Losing your car may feel like the end of the world, but getting your car back can be a lot easier than you think. Luckily, there are some excellent apps and technologies that can help you recover your car and get it back to you. There are many tracking apps available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, and some also work on smartwatches like the Apple Watch. Some of these apps will alert you if your car is moved if its key is picked up or even if the battery on your car dies. If you are not in control of your car, you have to be extra careful when parking in unfamiliar parking lots. To help you prevent this, you can use a GPS monitoring system.
Purchase a surveillance device.
Those that still rely on leaving the keys in the car, such as those that have an alarm system, are at a higher risk of having their car stolen. One less set of keys makes it easier for a thief to break into your car without arousing suspicion. Instead, consider getting a smart car security system with all of the bells and whistles. Some security systems, such as Global Alarm, have integrated GPS tracking with video surveillance and can be accessed on any smartphone, tablet, or PC. Advertisement Buy a free good-quality car alarm and/or dash camera If you have a GPS system in your car and the dash camera shows you exactly where you parked, you can use this footage to prove that you are who you say you are.
How to prevent your car from being stolen in the future?
It’s easy to think that if you lock your doors and hide your valuables, that will help prevent theft. But the truth is, the most effective way to avoid your car being stolen is to not get your car stolen in the first place. By taking these simple steps, you can significantly reduce the risk of having your car stolen. 1. Get involved with your community. One of the best ways to prevent car theft is to become part of your local community. When you live in a community where there is a high incidence of car theft, it’s easier for thieves to target you. If you’re not part of that community, the chances of your car being stolen in that town are greatly reduced. Take a moment to figure out which neighborhoods have the highest amount of car theft.
What kind of insurance do I get to cover myself from car theft?
According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, car theft insurance has remained unchanged for years. If you are one of the few people who have never been a victim of auto theft, it is time you looked into getting coverage. Speak with Joe at Platinum Insurance who has a proven track record for handling claims. With over 20 carriers, know that you are getting the best coverage at a reasonable price.