My Car Was Broken Into. What Do I Do?

Each day, approximately 2,500 cars are stolen, which is about two cars every minute. Thousands of people deal with car breaks-in on a daily basis as well. With the frequency of auto theft and break-ins, it’s important to be proactive about protecting your vehicle, such as by installing a security system  to monitor your driveway.

But what if your car has already been broken into? It’s natural to feel vulnerable, but it’s important to stay calm. Below are tips to follow when your car has been a target of theft.

Record the Damage

First, do not enter or move the car. Start documenting what you see and take pictures of visible damage or other evidence. Also write everything down so that you have documentation that can be given to your insurance company if need be.

File a Police Report

After you’ve collected the evidence, call the police and file a report. While there may not be much they can do at the moment, it’s important for the police to have these reports on file. This way, they can identify trends in car break-ins and theft and patrol those areas more closely.

Place a Fraud Alert

Even if the car thief did not steal your wallet, it’s best to be on the safe side and curb identity theft. You never know just what the person was able to get a hold of, such as a name, birthday or Social Security number. Place a fraud alert on your account and cancel credit or debit cards that might have been stolen.

File a Claim with Your Insurance

Finally, file a claim with your insurance company if there was damage to your car or a lot was stolen. You don’t always need to file a claim - only if the dollar amount of the damages exceeds your deductible by a large amount. If your car wasn’t damaged, and only a few things were stolen, you’re probably better off not filing a claim, but speak with your insurance agent to get guidance.

Protecting Your Car from Future Break-Ins

Now that you’ve been affected by car theft, it’s important to protect yourself from future break-ins. Here are a few tips for doing so.

• Avoid parking your car in poorly lit or remote areas
• Don’t leave your car unattended for several days at a time
• Always lock your car doors and keep your windows closed
• Remove valuables from your car or keep them hidden
• Install camera surveillance outside your home to watch for intruders

Cars can easily cost half the price of a home, so they are an investment that you want to protect. Installing a security system with camera surveillance keeps careful watch over your driveway and everything on it! Call Texas Security & Surveillance to learn more about protecting both the inside and outside of your Austin TX property.