Even crimes that don’t physically harm you can be mentally overwhelming. But if you prepare for different situations, it pays off in peace of mind during and after the event. Let’s take a look at automobile security and what to do after someone breaks into your vehicle.
-
Survey the Scene
Make sure everyone is safe, first and foremost. (You don’t want to be calling your insurance company or an auto locksmith if the burglar is still in the immediate area and a potential threat.) If there are any injuries or the situation is dangerous, call 911 or the appropriate authorities first. Only if you’re sure that the scene is safe should you proceed to the following steps.
-
Take Photos and Notes
For insurance purposes, you’ll want to document the scene once you determine it is safe. That means taking photos and notes for anything that was damaged (e.g. windows) and/or stolen. This is also helpful in case you need to file a police report… which we encourage you to do.
-
File Reports
Both insurance and police reports are important to file, even if there was no major damage or danger. Insurance companies often require police reports before they’ll pay any expenses for theft claims. If you have time to gather them, be sure to have your driver’s license, insurance card, vehicle registration and any photos before you contact the police or insurance company.
-
Get New Keys
If your keys were stolen, you’ll need to make new ones. Even if they weren’t, it’s a good idea to get a new key made from a professional auto locksmith, as there’s always the chance the criminal made a copy of your key if they had access to it. You might also want to think about canceling your debit or credit cards (if they were vulnerable) and sign up for an identity protection service depending on what personal items were stolen.
-
Reconsider Where You’re Parking
Finally, use this incident as a reminder about where to park moving forward. You can’t do much about vehicle break-ins at home, but you can at least make sure you park in good lighting and that you keep all valuables hidden from plain sight. Also, make sure to do the common-sense things like locking your doors and securing your windows and you may even want to consider a car alarm for added peace of mind.
If you’re interested in more auto security tips, contact the team at A-1 Locksmith today.
