Heading out to your driveway only to find out that your car is stolen is not something you worry about too much unless it happens. Car theft is a violation of your security. Being a victim can cause an emotional shock but regardless of how you feel, you have to clear up your mind to act quickly.
Statistics show that among 700,000 cars that were stolen in America, only half of them were returned to respective owners. But it doesn’t mean you can never have your car back. You still have the chance to recover what’s yours. You just have to follow the first important things to do when your car gets stolen.
Call the police immediately.
All incidents should be immediately notified to the police. And when you file for “Car Stolen” report, make sure that you can give them the necessary information including the license plate, your Identification Card, the brand, model, plus other features of your car, and the exact location where you last saw it. When the case is filed, sit back for a while and let them do the job. You can ask for updates though.
Report the incident to your insurance provider.
Once you’ve filed for a police report, do not forget to contact your insurance provider. Let them know about the incident. Complete all the requirements for your claims and do not forget to submit them within 24 hours or ahead of time. Some owners may find it very inconvenient to file for claims but you have to realize how insurance can help you reduce your loss. So if they need further information, always give whatever they ask so they can work on your claims immediately.
Track the stolen car through GPS.
Your tracking device is one of the most beneficial car accessories so don’t ever forget to invest in an active GPS system if possible. There are two types of GPS: active and passive. Because passive is smaller and easier to conceal, most users choose to install these devices for monitoring.
However, passive GPS has a limited memory span because it saves the information to the device instead of sending them to the server. Active GPS, on the other hand, is more useful when it comes to tracking a stolen car. It constantly transmits all the information to the company’s server in real time, this way gives them access to locate your car.
Check security camera footage.
If the car was stolen from your garage, check the security camera footage to visualize the thief’s image and his general escape route. This gives you an idea of which direction to follow. Also, these shreds of evidence can help the authorities to investigate further.
If you don’t have these security cameras at home, maybe it’s about time that you start installing them within your home’s vicinity. You still have another option though. Lucky if your community is equipped with security camera systems. If permitted, review the video recordings within the public driveway to locate the thief’s escape route.
Find your car with VIN.
Vehicle Identification Number or VIN is a code that the vehicle industry uses to identify an individual vehicle. The code contains 17 characters of combining letters and numbers. This is usually found on the dashboard (partly on the driver’s side). The reason why owners have to keep a copy of their VIN is that it’s easier to locate a missing car with a VIN.
All you have to do is visit AutoCheck online and purchase your vehicle history report. It may cost $30 to $40. You will be asked to input your VIN so make sure it’s ready. The vehicle history report contains all the places where your car is registered, titled, and serviced. You will easily find the latest activity on your car since the report is chronologically arranged.
