What to do if your car is stolen

Many people have experienced this momentary dread after going out of business and not seeing their car. The first thought that comes to mind is that your car was stolen, but then you realize that you parked it in the next lane. Sometimes, however, someone has actually stolen your car. And while this is a great inconvenience, the best thing you can do at the moment is take a deep breath, stay, calm down, and remember the next steps.

Verify that your vehicle has been stolen

When you first realize that you can't find your car, do a few simple things first. This can save you from having to call the police only to find out that your car was parked a few rows away.

You have parked your car elsewhere. It is common for a vehicle owner to have parked their vehicle in one location and think they have parked it somewhere else.

Do a thorough visual inspection of the area before panicking. Or maybe you parked at the next entrance down. Before calling the police, make sure your car is indeed missing.

Your vehicle has been towed. There are several reasons a vehicle may be towed, including parking in a location where there is no parking available, or if the vehicle has been impounded.

If you parked your vehicle in a no-parking zone, it may have been towed. Perhaps you thought that you would leave soon, but for some reason you were delayed. In this case, your car could be towed to a car impound. First call the phone number on the no parking sign to see if this is the case.

Another case where your car may be towed is if you are behind on your car payment. If so, contact your lender to find out what you need to do to get your vehicle back and where it is being held at this time.

Report to the police

Once you have determined that you cannot find your vehicle, that it has not been towed, and that it has indeed been stolen, call the police. Call 911 to report the theft. In doing so, you need to provide them with certain information, such as:

• Date, time and place of the theft.
• Make, model, color and year of manufacture of the vehicle.

Filing a police report. When the police arrive, you must provide them with additional information, which they will include in their report.

This includes the vehicle identification number or VIN. You can find this information on your insurance card.

You must also tell them your driver's license number.

The Police Department will add the information you provide to statewide and national records. This makes it harder to sell your car to thieves.

Check with OnStar or LoJack

If you have an OnStar, LoJack, or similar anti-theft device installed in a stolen vehicle, the company can locate the vehicle and even disable it. In some cases, the police department may contact you first to make sure you have not loaned the car to a friend or relative.

How LoJack works:

Once a car with a system such as LoJack has been found to have been stolen, there are a few specific steps that need to be followed.

The theft is recorded for the first time in a national database of stolen vehicles.

This is followed by activation of the LoJack device. Activating the device emits an RF signal with a unique code that alerts law enforcement to the presence of a stolen vehicle.

OnStar Stolen Vehicle Slowdown (SVS) and Remote Ignition Block Services

OnStar, in addition to being able to track a vehicle using GPS, can also assist in vehicle recovery using SVS or a remote ignition unit.

After calling OnStar and notifying you that your vehicle has been stolen, OnStar uses the vehicle's GPS system to accurately determine its location.

OnStar then contacts the police and informs them of the theft of the car and its location.

As soon as the police are within sight of the stolen vehicle, they notify OnStar, which triggers the vehicle's SVS system. At this point, the car's engine should begin to lose power.

If a vehicle thief can avoid capture, OnStar can use a remote ignition interlock system to prevent the vehicle from starting after the thief has stopped and turned it off. As noted above, the police are notified of the whereabouts of the car and can recover the stolen property, and maybe even the thief, without any problems.

Call your insurance company

If you do not have OnStar, LoJack or a similar service, you must notify your insurance company. Just keep in mind that until the police file a complaint, you cannot apply for insurance. In addition, if you had any valuables in the vehicle, you must also notify the insurance company.

Filing a claim with an insurance company. Filing a stolen car insurance claim is a detailed process.

In addition to the title, you need to provide some other information, including:

• Location of all keys
• Who had access to the vehicle
• List of valuables in the car at the time of theft

At this point, the agent will ask you a series of questions to help you file a claim for your stolen vehicle.

• A warningA: Keep in mind that if you had only liability insurance and not full insurance, then your insurance does not cover car theft.

If you are leasing or financing a vehicle, you should also contact the lender or leasing agency. These companies will then work directly with your insurance company for any claims regarding the stolen vehicle.

Car theft is a stressful and frightening scenario. Staying calm when you realize your car has been stolen can potentially help you get it back faster. Once you have determined that your vehicle is missing and not towed, report it to the police who will then work to recover your vehicle. If you have an OnStar or LoJack device installed, restoring your vehicle is usually even easier. Last but not least, notify your insurance company of the theft so they can begin reviewing your claim and get you back on the road.