Hi - I’d Like to Report a Stolen Vehicle
Having your possessions stolen is so violating. Objects you worked hard to obtain, or were given to you by a loved one. But sometimes, things get stolen. Including vehicles. Since before I started driving, I’ve seen firsthand what can happen to friends and family when their vehicle suddenly goes missing. There’s that sudden drop in the gut of, "well, did I park it here”? And then the further sinking feeling when broken glass is discovered all over the ground.
Besides having a visceral emotional reaction, what to do when your vehicle is stolen? How can you survive this personal crisis and (perhaps) come out better on the other side?
Call the police: if you are under direct threat or if you are witnessing the theft in real time, dial your emergency number (911 in the U.S.). Otherwise, you’ll want to call the non-emergency number for your local station and give them details about your vehicle.
Ask neighbors: with the number of cameras installed throughout neighborhoods, it could be helpful to ask your neighbors if they saw anything or if their security cameras recorded anything. Or if the car was in a parking lot or outside the business, they may also have surveillance cameras installed. It’s important to at least ask, because you are your own advocate in this situation.
OnStar: if your vehicle is registered with OnStar, they can disable your car remotely as well as locate it via GPS. This can be helpful in recovery, and (unlike Apple’s “Find My” tracking), the police can actually track the vehicle down.
Call your car insurance company: even better if you have a relationship with your agent. They can help walk you through what you’ll need to do to file a claim, what your car rental reimbursement policy is, and more. Depending on your policy, they will either reimburse you for the replacement value of the vehicle, or offer you what the car is worth in today’s money.
Talk to a confidant: nothing is more important than leaning on friends in a time of personal crisis. Sharing the story of what happened can ease some emotional pain and can help you talk through options. If friends aren’t available, reach out to family or a therapist. Heck, sometimes even going to talk to a hairdresser will set you right.
Stay safe out there! And if you have any other tips on what to do in this tough situation, feel free to share them with me at hello at survivalistgal dot com.
Blog inspired by Ross V., a Survivalist Pal.
