Are the car thieves who are targeting them. About 33% of all vehicle thefts occur near the car owner’s residence, and around 20% of thefts occur in parking lots. Criminals have upped their game, developing sophisticated techniques aimed at bypassing vehicle anti-theft devices. However, there are steps you can take to reduce your chances of falling victim to car thieves.
The following are some of the preventive measures you can take to keep your car safe.
- Location (parking your car)
Certain places are just more dangerous than others. Where you choose to park will significantly influence the odds of being a victim of car theft or not. You do not always have many options, but whenever possible, try and park in a spot that is clearly visible to the public eye.
2. Do not leave your car unlocked/Secure your vehicle.
3. Never leave your car ignition on.
Never leave your car ignition running or on, especially while it is unattended or unlocked. You need to know that nearly half of all vehicle thefts could have been easily avoided if the vehicle owner took reasonable precautions, such as turning the car off when not in use. If you are not behind the wheel, help prevent car theft by turning your vehicle off. Leaving your car running invites theft of your vehicle.
4. Keep your car in a locked garage.
If possible, keep your car parked in your garage and lock the garage door.
5. Do not leave a spare key near your vehicle
Many people keep a spare key under the car just in case they get locked out. Thieves know exactly where to check for an extra key. While getting locked out of your car is a pain, think about the potential hassle of your car getting stolen.
6. Use Common Sense
If you are concerned about the safety of your car or notice someone loitering around the parking lot, it is best to park elsewhere. It is better to walk a few extra steps than to have your car stolen because you ignored your instincts.
7. Do not leave valuables visible in your vehicle.
Leaving bags or containers in your car that look as if they may have valuable items in them is a way to get your car broken into. Make sure to hide any bags, even if they are empty, as this may provide enough incentive for a thief to break into the car. Once the thief has smashed a window to snatch your valuables, he might just decide to go all the way and take your car. Help prevent car theft by thinking ahead.
8. Physically check that your car doors are locked.
When locking your vehicle, feel the door handle to ensure your door is locked securely.
9. When activating your car’s alarm system with your remote, face your vehicle. Ensure you hear the doors and see the indicator light flash. Wait for 30 seconds before you walk off to ensure your locking device has not been deactivated.
10. Leave your windows slightly open.
Another tip, which makes breaking or smashing the windows of a vehicle far more difficult, is to leave the window slightly open.
11. Use a physical anti-theft device.
12. Installing a mechanical device that locks the steering wheel Installing a mechanical device that locks the steering wheel, column, or brakes (clubs/collars/J-bars) can minimize the chances of your vehicle being stolen, as removing these security features will hamper the car thieves in their operating time allowed to steal your vehicle.
13. Press the lock button more than once
REPORTING CAR THEFT AND CAR HIGHJACKING
If you do become a vehicle theft or car-high-jacking victim, make sure that the first thing you do is file a police report, the sooner the better, and pay attention to details.
Is your car really stolen?
The first thing you must determine is whether your car was stolen. Make sure you were not parked in a tow zone or that the car was not impounded by local traffic police. Does someone else have a key to your vehicle? Did you let a family member, or a friend use your car?
If you are confident that your car was stolen, then these are some of the steps that you can take in the event of your car being stolen or hijacked:
- Activate your tracking device if you have one.
Alerting your vehicle tracking company as soon as you become aware that your car was stolen vastly increases the chances that your vehicle will be recovered. You may be able to activate the tracking device yourself, or you might need to phone the tracking company.
- Find a helper.
This step may seem unnecessary. However, it can be extremely helpful when your emotions are running high to ask a friend or family member to help you remain calm and get through each step completely.
- Report the car theft or hijacking to the police ASAP
You will need to open a case at your nearest police station. Reporting a stolen car to law enforcement is important for several reasons:
- Your car will be flagged on the police’s stolen vehicle database;
- To help in recovering your car;
- To prevent criminals from using your car to commit other criminal acts;
- For insurance purposes: and
- To give yourself legal protection.
Make sure you have your car’s details with you when you report the theft to the police, including:
- The year, make, model, and colour of the car;
- License plate number;
- Vehicle Identification Number (VIN);
- Approximate time the car was stolen;
- Description of anyone you saw loitering around your car before it was stolen/hijacked; and
- Names of witnesses.
You will find most of the information on your vehicle registration documents.
- . Report your car stolen to your insurance company
The sooner you tell your insurance company about the theft of your vehicle, the sooner it will start processing your claim, and the sooner you will be able to get a new set of wheels.
You will need to submit a few documents during the claims process, including a
- picture of the police report;
- The case number;
- Copy of the vehicle registration;
- Certified copy of your ID; and
- A form that gives the insurance provider consent to access the police records and border movements for your car.
You might also be asked for the mileage, your tracking device details, photos of the complete set of keys, and a description of any marks, dents, or scratches.
You will want to sort out any money outstanding on your car loan. This involves getting a settlement letter from your bank and forwarding it to your insurer.
The insurance provider will prepare an agreement of loss document detailing how much money is due to you and how much to the bank. Once you have signed off on this document, you will give it to the insurance company along with your car keys and the original registration documents. From there, the insurer will pay off what is left of your car loan and pay the remainder over to you.
Three (3) things to remember:
- The insurance provider will deduct your excess before it pays you.
- If you owe the bank more than your car is insured for, you will need to pay the You can add shortfall cover to your policy to avoid this – something to bear in mind when you are buying a vehicle with financing.
- Some policies let you add a hired car so that you will not be stuck without a ride until your car is replaced.
Wait for the outcome.
Recovering stolen vehicles can take time, and sometimes stolen cars are never recovered, or if they are, they can be in bad shape. Stay patient and continue to work with the police and your insurance company to increase the chances of recovering your vehicle or getting your insurance to pay your claim.
- How to report a stolen car to the leasing company
Even if your car was leased, you will follow the same steps outlined above. Essentially, you will file an incident report with the police and contact your insurer. Your insurance company will work with the entity responsible for the lease during the claims process. However, you can contact the leasing company and inform them of the theft as well in case they have special instructions for you.
- What happens when your car does not have insurance?
Without car insurance, you may face some challenges in recovering anything of value from the incident. Supposing your car is not recovered, you would be on the hook for an outstanding balance on the vehicle, and you would also be without a car. Even if you own your car outright, you could be negatively impacted by being out of a car with no means to get a new one.
- Will your rates increase after filing a police report?
Because your car getting stolen is not considered your fault, your insurance premiums may not increase. However, you could lose certain discounts that were in place for being claim-free, which could slightly increase your premium.