Getting your first car is extremely exciting. However, it can also be devastating if you come out and realize that your car has been stolen. No one likes to have things taken from them without their knowledge. This is especially the case if you have paid a significant amount of money for an item such as a vehicle. Suddenly you find yourself in a tizzy as you try to dig through what paperwork you have in order to report your car theft to the proper authorities.
If you come out to your driveway or wherever you last had your vehicle parked and you realize that it’s gone, the first thing you’ll want to do is contact your local police department. If you are out of town, obviously it will make sense to contact the police who have jurisdiction in that particular area. While you are waiting for the police to arrive, think back to the last time your car was parked there. Information that the police will want to know will be include such questions as: What time did you last see your car? Were the car doors locked? Do you have a working, audible alarm system? What sorts of valuables did you have in the vehicle? What does the vehicle look like? What’s the make, model and year? Did you notice any strange people in the area prior to your car being stolen or suspect any strange activity?
As a general rule, it is always a good idea to leave your vehicle as empty as possible if you can. Do not leave valuables in your car. For example, I have known some people to leave wallets mp3 players, jewelry and medication out in the open in their vehicles. This is the biggest mistake that you can make! Not only will a thief want to gain access to your car because you’ve carelessly left these items out in the open, but you’ll be to blame for them getting stolen! No matter how safe you think your neighborhood is, always always lock your car doors. As an added safety precaution, if you have a driveway, park in it. Even better, if you have a garage, use it to park your car in. I can’t tell you how many people don’t do this! Purchasing outdoor lighting that automatically clicks on whenever there is movement is another small expense that will pay for itself ten times over.
Forming a community watch in which your neighbors look out for suspicious activity is another great idea. Watch for unfamiliar vehicles driving slowly throughout your neighborhood as well as strange people walking by and peering into vehicles. Call the police if you see strange people trying the door handles of cars or walking around with crowbars or other strange objects in their hands such as a Slim Jim. It is most likely and indication of their intentions. Most importantly, if you hear a strange noise or something that sounds like someone breaking into your car or your neighbor’s car, call the police and write down as much information as you are able to observe while it is going on such as the race, and clothing description of the suspect. The last thing you want to do is go out on your own to intercept a thief because you don’t know what they are armed with.
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