It’s a horrible feeling when you go to get in your car, only to see that the window is smashed and somebody has cleared everything out. It’s easy to panic, but there are some important steps that you need to take if you want to improve your chances of getting your stuff back and make sure that your car is secure. 

Before we look at what you should do when your car is broken into, there are a few things you should know about protecting your car. Parking it in a garage, if possible, is the best way to protect it. If you do have to park on the street, try to find a well lit area. You should also invest in a steering wheel lock so if somebody gets in, they are not able to drive it away. When you park the car, you should remove any valuables or at least put them out of sight, so your car is not an attractive prospect for thieves. 

Unfortunately, even if you do all of these things, there is still a chance that your car will be broken into, and it’s important that you know what to do. 

Document The Damage 

Before you do anything else, you need to document the damage to the car and list everything that was stolen. Take some photos on your phone and search through the car to see what has been taken, but be careful. When the police arrive at the scene, they will examine the car for any traces of the burglar, and if you disturb things too much, you may destroy vital evidence. 

Call The Police 

Calling the police right away is vital for a few reasons. Firstly, the quicker they can get to the scene and examine the car, the more likely they are to find vital evidence that leads them to the culprit, so you stand a better chance of getting your stuff back. Secondly, you will need to file a police report before you are able to claim on insurance. When the police arrive, it is helpful if you have your driver’s license, vehicle registration, photos of the damage, and a list of stolen items. This will make the process of filing a report a lot quicker. 

Secure The Vehicle

Once the police have finished with the car, you need to secure the vehicle right away. If the locks have been broken, call an all hour locksmith right away. You may also need to call somebody to fix the windows if they have been smashed. It’s important that you do this immediately because you can’t leave the car again until it is secure. 

Call Your Insurance Company 

Finally, you need to call your insurance company and see whether it is worth making a claim. In some cases, if there is a lot of damage to the car and expensive items have been taken, it’s best to make a claim. However, you need to consider how the claim will affect insurance prices in the future. The cost of fixing one window, for example, may be a lot less than the extra money you will pay over the next few years if your insurance costs increase. 

As long as you follow these steps, you can make sure that your car is secure and you have everything you need to make an insurance claim if that is the right thing to do.