10 Unexpected Car Stolen With Keys Inside Tips
10 Unexpected Car Stolen With Keys Inside Tips
Blog Article
Car Stolen With Keys Inside
If your vehicle is broken into with the keys still inside, you'll need to submit an insurance claim under comprehensive coverage. The deductible will be based on the amount and the kind of policy.
However, you should take precautions to prevent having your vehicle stolen in the first place. Here are a few suggestions:
Preventive measures to take
A car is the largest investment you can make. It is advisable to take all available precautions to protect it. Preventive measures can help to reduce the risk of theft and increase the odds of getting your car back in the event it's stolen with keys inside.
One of the best ways to keep your vehicle safe is to install an anti-theft device which includes a GPS tracking device. These systems make use of a combination of GPS and wireless technologies that allow you to track your vehicle. The technology alerts the police or a monitoring service when the vehicle is moved. They are also able to locate a lost or damaged vehicle, which can be helpful in recovering it.
Even if you're just going to be gone for a few moments, locking the doors and rolling up the windows is another preventive measure. Tens of thousands of vehicles are stolen every year in the U.S. because the owners leave their cars unlocked with their keys in the ignition or elsewhere. A skilled thief is able to open an unlocked vehicle through a window that's only folded up an inch or two.
Parking in secure parking garages and lots is a great way to deter thieves, since these areas are usually monitored and have security personnel. Avoid areas that are secluded and with poor lighting, as they are more likely to attract thieves.
In addition to installing an anti-theft system and a security system, you can also deter thieves with visible theft deterrents such as a steering wheel lock or alarm decals. These devices will make a potential thief reconsider entering your vehicle and will need to remove or bypass the device.
If you have valuables or electronics in your vehicle, it is best to keep them as hidden as possible. Items like chargers for mobile phones or navigation equipment, as well as electronic cords should be kept out of view or stored in the trunk. It is also important to record the serial number of any expensive accessories or equipment in case it is stolen. If they ever are found, you can provide the information to your insurance company and the police.
Notifying the police
Every 32 seconds a car is stolen, and theft of vehicles is a major expense, costing Americans approximately $8 billion annually. In a lot of cases, cars are stolen with keys inside, and it's an issue that is getting more serious. It can happen when you leave your car running to warm up or when you're going into the shop for a few minutes. You can prevent this from happening by removing valuables from your vehicle and locking them.
It's also essential to notify the police as soon as your vehicle is stolen. This will provide law enforcement officers with a better chance of catching the perpetrator and restitution for your vehicle. Also, it can help ensure that your vehicle is registered into national and state auto theft databases and will help prevent any future ownership issues or title problems.
You should also call your insurance company. You can inquire whether your policy covers thefts of vehicles with keys in the ignition. If you have comprehensive insurance your insurer will likely pay for the loss. If you don't have this insurance, it may be worth looking into switching to a different insurer.
If you are filing a claim for an unintentionally stolen vehicle with keys in the ignition, it is important to act fast. If you delay too long get more info the insurance company could deny your claim or question the reason you left the keys in your car. This is because they believe that you did not take "reasonable care" of your property.
You should be aware of the potential for identity theft if there are documents in your vehicle, such as your insurance card or registration. Some people even keep their paychecks or receipts in their cars which could lead to fraudulent activity. If this is the case, you should inform your financial institutions and be sure to monitor your accounts in detail. If your car is recovered it is important to notify the police and your insurance company to allow them to investigate the theft and prosecute the perpetrator.
Notifying your insurance company
Many people let their vehicle running while they hurry out of the house for a quick trip to the grocery store or gas station. Unfortunately, this could cause your car to be stolen. You should never leave your car unattended when not driving. The best way to stop this from happening is to lock your car doors whenever you're not in it.
You'll need to notify your insurance company as soon as possible when you leave your vehicle in a parking lot and you don't have keys. You could be asked to provide details about the incident including the location of the vehicle and the time it was stolen. It's crucial to provide this information so that police can locate your vehicle and hopefully recover it.
You can submit an online claim with certain insurance companies for cars, but it is better to talk with an agent. You can provide more information about the incident, and the back-andforth could delay your claim. Your agent could request a copy the police report as well as the list of valuables that are in your vehicle. This will assist the police with their investigation and help determine if your items are covered under your comprehensive insurance.
It is also important to inform your leasing company or finance company that you own a finance or leasing vehicle. This will prevent them from trying to repossess your car or claiming it for repossession. If your car is discovered with significant damage, your comprehensive insurance will cover the costs of repair.
If you decide to file a claim on your car and it is not refunded the settlement can be up to 30 days. Examine your policy to determine whether you have a rental reimbursement insurance policy that will pay for a car rental while you wait. Mark Fitzpatrick, MoneyGeek's head of insurance and a licensed property casualty insurer is an expert in the field. He has analyzed the insurance market for more than five years and is regularly quoted in national media.
Inspecting your vehicle
The first thing you need to do when you discover that a car has been stolen with the keys inside is to verify that it was indeed stolen. Contacting the non-emergency number for the police department in your area can help you do this.
If you do you must send them the following information:
The Vehicle Identification Number is typically located on the driver's door or near to the windshield. The seven digits that make up the VIN are also engraved on the headlights and mirrors to make it harder for anyone who tries to alter the identity of the vehicle.
It is useful to note any distinctive characteristics of your vehicle. A description of any personal belongings that were in the vehicle when it was stolen could be helpful.
Your Insurance Coverage - If you have Comprehensive or specified Perils coverage, it will likely cover the vehicle's theft regardless of whether or not you left your keys in it. If you only have liability insurance, this may not be the case.
Many people make this mistake when they run errands, or getting ready for work in the morning. This is an ideal situation for disaster since it only takes an opportunistic criminal only a few seconds to jump into your car and leave.
Saturday is the most common day to steal a car with the keys in ignition followed by Friday and Monday. With Colorado being 1st in the nation for car thefts and a vehicle that is puffing can be an inviting target for opportunistic criminals.
It is generally cheaper to purchase a brand new set than to make an insurance claim if the original key was stolen. This is especially true if you have an electronic key fob or a smart key that can be easily repaired at your local car dealership for just a few hundred dollars. This is less expensive than paying your deductible, and you will avoid dealing with the insurance company in the future.