The odds of getting a stolen car back is 46%, but this figure varies by state. Some criminals will use the wrong license plates when absconding, joyriding or legalizing a stolen car. By contrast, some steps will make your car much easier to steal. Before you panic too much, call 911 or study up on how to create a terrible hex for a car thief, you might want to save a little embarrassment and confirm your vehicle has actually been stolen. In our three-year study analyzing the most stolen vehicles in America from 2016 to 2018, two Honda models ranked as the most vehicles stolen, accounting for 40 percent of the stolen vehicles in the top 10. If someones going to steal your car, odds are, theyre going to turn off, remove or disable any GPS technology. Continue with Recommended Cookies. The police also patrol parking lots at local motels known for criminal activities to run the tag numbers for possible theft. The police department will contact you using the number or contact address you provided when you reported your stolen car. Thieves wont feel compelled to break into your car this way. If the criminal stole the car for a joyride, it will not take long to recover it. This estimation also depends on the region. If your vehicle was stolen, this type of comprehensive coverage will be useful in reducing some of the expenses associated with theft. Police are asking drivers to avoid the area of Jackson Avenue and South . The reported entry and transfer process from the police departments can easily take up to 48 hours in any region. One thing about credit card fraud is that the majority of them occur on a wide scale especially overseas. The Azusa City Council recently approved funding for three more tracking units, which cost $1,800 each. Certain Kia and Hyundai vehicles targeted by thieves Once it is determined that the vehicle is reported to be stolen, an officer will attempt to stop it using just lights and siren. To stop the auto thefts, Los Angeles County has begun installing a high-tech homing device network designed to help police track down stolen vehicles. If it is determined that the car was in fact stolen, then the insurance company will pay out on the claim. PHILADELPHIA POLICE DEPARTMENT DIRECTIVE 12.7 SUBJECT: VEHICLE THEFT INVESTIGATIONS _____ 1. Alarmingly, about $6 billion were lost because of car theft in the United States. Read also: State laws allow you to claim abandoned cars. The police will also attempt to track down the owner of the car. Hotwiring your automobile allows thieves to bypass your starter. This will help create a paper trail and give the authorities a better chance of finding your vehicle. Some people do this so they can record an accident. If there is a video available, the police detective works with it to recover the car faster. Complex cars are those where the thief might see the color, for example, but not its VIN or license plate.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[580,400],'automotiveex_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_4',167,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-automotiveex_com-medrectangle-3-0'); People who believe that their car does steal should file a police report. If they locate their vehicle in a warehouse, garage, or down a dark alley, they should never approach the area. Once you find that your vehicle is gone, you should report it to the police as soon as possible. My car was stolen yesterday with my purse in it, I've done all of the first steps - filed a police report, called my insurance, the dealership, cancelled my cards, posted on social media, but I'm wondering what happens now. One way to do this would be to put your car for sale on an online classified site or in a newspaper. When leaving your car unattended for an extended period, use the anti-theft devices installed by the car manufacturer or consider purchasing a car alarm system. Recommended Reading: How To Search Police Records. To prevent future thefts, follow basic safety tips. The most commonly stolen vehicles are older model sedans and SUVs, which can be easily sold or stripped for parts. The great thing about GPS data loggers is that they provide police and law enforcement with second-by-second tracking, but do so with no subscription fees. In conclusion, Police use their resources to investigate a stolen car, talk to the victim, and record relevant information. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. When a car is reported stolen to the police, they will begin their investigation by gathering information about the vehicle. For example, if a car did steal from a parking lot, it is unlikely that this parking lot would have surveillance cameras. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Dont Miss: How To Get A Fake Police Report. Recent legal decisions have made it clear that the installation of GPS tracking devices is subject to the protection of the Fourth Amendment, therefore law enforcement needs to take the appropriate precautions and obtain a warrant before using GPS devices for certain purposes. The surveillance camera may have been at extreme angle, or blocked by an obstacle, making it difficult to identify the suspect or read the vehicle license plate. Most major cities will have an automotive crimes department, although it might be under a different name. For example, a blue Nissan plates could be found on a black Ford, which indicates possible theft. Identify witnesses and obtain statements. Check with family members who might have borrowed it without permission. All stolen vehicle information shall be recorded on a Vehicle Theft Report (75-71). If you werent asked about this, please read the information below then call us on 101, quoting your incident number, to record your wishes. Before using a GPS unit to track a suspects vehicle, police officers generally need to obtain a warrant. This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. For starters they will run the car's license plate number through their database to see if it has been reported as stolen. This happens prior to the written report. If the person is a known criminal or gang member, then the police will be able to build a case against them or have more evidence for an existing case. When a car is stolen, the police are tasked with investigating what happened. The run a check on the car, which may come back stolen. If you find any foreign objects that seem suspicious then you should try to track down what it is. It is important to weigh the need to pursue a stolen vehicle against the safety of the officer and the motoring public. The following tips will make it harder and less attractive for a thief to steal your car: Ultimately, in an ideal world, we wouldnt have to worry about car theft however, knowing what to do and being prepared for every eventuality is the key to getting life back to normal if your car is stolen. Kent PD investigating kidnapping. In some cases, if there is no clear evidence of who stole the car and it cannot be returned to its rightful owner, the police may keep the car for their own use. He is currently living in North Caroline, where its all about food and coffee and, of course, cars. By contrast, some steps will make your car much easier to steal. Depending on the situation regarding the vehicle, the officer and probably also his/her supervisor will continue to ask and answer the question, How much police action should be taken and to what extent a pursuit will continue? The insurance adjuster may also ask you to share what happened, including the last time you saw the car, as part of the claims process. You can also troll Facebook sites and profiles to see if theres any information on your car. It happens all the time, police say. The store has cameras that will track your progress and once we have her, we will take care of her. You will be surprised to learn that there is a car theft reported every 50 seconds in the states alone. You must close all of your windows entirely. In the Midwest, the ratio of car recovery is about 24%. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. They will try to determine who stole the car . You Can Find Best Car Services Here First, report the theft to the police as soon as possible. This helps to avoid vehicle thefts. Finding a stolen car used to be all but a lost cause. Further, it can do through a process of elimination. Well, now imagine if your car is stolen. If youre the victim of car theft, report your stolen car to law enforcement and file a claim with your car insurance company. Bernard Juchli is an experienced racer, mechanic and team owner who trusts Avon Tyres. When you let the DMV know, you wont be responsible for future issues related to the car. You are muttering and pacing, My car was stolen. Doing so will help you avoid legal issues, and ensure a smooth claims process with your insurance policy. The police normalize pulling over drivers who violate traffic rules. You will be notified on the impound location where the associated fees will be paid. Manage Settings Below we outline the key steps you should take if your car is stolen. If someone is caught driving a stolen car, they can be charged with possession of a stolen vehicle. If it was, its time to notify the Police to see if they can help. The police record and official complaint will come in handy later. During the report entry, your VIN (vehicle identification number) and license plate are entered into a stolen vehicle database nationwide. For example, people in Northeast will get their stolen car back 14% of the time while people in Midwest recover stolen cars back about 24% of the time. They can also search for a car in places used by criminals. According to the FBIs Uniform Crime Reporting Program, nearly 721,900 motor vehicles were reported stolen in 2019. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. They sometimes hide the car for up to 30 days until the heated search reduces. The courses are adapted to the criminal trends threatening that region. The Digitpol database is a database of luxury vehicles that have gone missing. What to Do if Your Car Is Stolen - NerdWallet Police can use image analysis to track down your vehicle, especially if it doesnt have GPS. For example, a blue Nissan plates could be found on a black Ford, which indicates possible theft. Andrew P. Collins. Police said the stolen vehicle was driven to the intersection of Scarsdale Avenue and Harney Road, where the suspect stopped and removed the child. They might find their vehicle dismembered and in an empty lot at best. A car owner would have to file a stolen car report, then wait. Unfortunately, most people who have their vehicles stolen do not get them back. If a license plate reader finds a stolen vehicle and the cops can pull them over, the criminal will likely flee the scene. Typically when an officer sees a stolen vehicle they will verify the vehicle is in fact stolen before any action is taken. Whether your car has a GPS system. Robbery/Carjacking, Burglary), the Car insurance companies typically have a waiting period of 30 days, before they will pay a stolen car claim, as it gives time to see if the car would be recovered. How To Obtain A Police Report | DMV.com The faster your stolen vehicle is put into the police database the more quickly law enforcement can be looking for the vehicle. His favorites include the Koenigsegg CCX and Lamborghini Diablo 6.0 VT, but for him, the Ferrari 360 Spider is one of the sexiest cars that exists to date. However, the investigator may have a few other stolen cars to track, so it may not be about yours alone. It is revolutionary. How can I track a car with VIN number? During the report entry, your VIN and license plate are entered into a stolen vehicle database nationwide. A hundred things ran through my mind. Some police can catch the stolen car, but others wont. Now, when any officer processes the license plates, they can tell if a car is stolen or not, and make attempt to recover it. Dont be surprised if your policy doesnt cover theftnot all car insurance providers do. Kent Police investigating kidnapping of two children Some of these require you to play amateur sleuth. In addition, the car can be seized by the police and may be sold at auction. They can do this by looking for registration records or contacting the manufacturer of the car in order to find out who purchased it. This could be a crucial yet complex process and there are several steps which are needed or required be followed for the means of finding the car along with bringing the perpetrators to justice. The police will also attempt to track down the owner of the car. How Police Investigate Stolen Car if They Want to - Sane Driver Matthew is a freelance writer who is passionate about technology, music, photography, and decentralized finance. Now, I own my garage in Miami, Florida. In this blog post, we will take a look at what happens when a car is reported as stolen. It wont get you out of filing a police report, but it will greatly increase the odds youll get your vehicle back, fully intact, and ready to ride again. Thieves may be discouraged if they are aware that they are clearly visible. Is It Different? Often, a potential thief will see that you have these features and will be deterred, preventing any damage at all. Often, a potential thief will see that you have these features and will be deterred, preventing any damage at all. Being an avid world traveler, he has spent most of his time analyzing the automotive markets, latest technology, and local favorites to enhance his knowledge base. The first step for Police to recover a stolen car is to take the license plate number and put it into an area of law enforcement search engines. This is a useful sign that the area isnt safe. After a while, the realization that your car has been stolen slowly dawns on you. This could be a parking lot or garage, street parking, or even parking near an ATM that has a camera. According to investigators, some of the defendants appeared at car-rental counters at John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport in which they presented both fake IDs and credit cards in order to rent vehicles. The most commonly stolen vehicles are older model sedans and SUVs, which can be easily sold or stripped for parts. I ended up at the campus police department to report my stolen car, only to discover my car had been towed due to illegal parking. If your vehicle is stolen, your first step should be to report it as stolen to Nottinghamshire Police by calling 101 or, if the incident is in progress, by calling 999.