If the criminal stole the car for a joyride, it will not take long to recover it. Different ways are available that a vehicle can steal, but typically a thief will break into a car and hotwire it. Youll need to provide them with information about yourself and the stolen vehicle. If they forget the keys inside the car, a spare key comes in handy. They may pull over the driver for questioning since the police officer believes the car is stolen until proven otherwise. Speaking of fingerprints, they are quite difficult to lift inside a car due to the interior surface design or texture. The penalties for this crime can range from a fine to imprisonment. Property Crime Investigation Checklist. This includes taking photographs of the car, recording the Vehicle Identification Number , and checking for any outstanding warrants or tickets that may be associated with the car. Did I leave a window cracked? This could be a crucial yet complex process and there are several steps which are needed or required be followed for the means of finding the car along with bringing the perpetrators to justice. When you report your vehicle stolen, you should have been asked if you wanted the Police Duty Garage Scheme to recover it if it is later found and that a charge would apply for this service. Some criminals arent as smart as we give them credit for. When police discover stolen luxury vehicles from a different country, they will use the digital database. Now, when any officer processes the license plates, they can tell if a car is stolen or not, and make attempt to recover it. An open window allows a burglar to get access to your vehicle. Robbery/Carjacking, Burglary), the If the assigned police detective does not find your stolen car within 30 days, the chances of finding it just gets stiffer. The police finding a stolen vehicle can be difficult there is only a little, or no evidence to base the investigation. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. The car was ticketed and put into the parking violation database, which is available online apparently. The police will add it to this database. Some police can catch the stolen car, but others wont. However, the investigator may have a few other stolen cars to track, so it may not be about yours alone. In fact, the police may not investigate the theft of a car at all, depending on the circumstances. But the 21st century offers a more appealing alternative, provided you have installed a GPS tracker in your car. Should I Get a Lawyer for a Car Accident That Was My Fault? Is It Different? Check with family members who might have borrowed it without permission. I am an Automotive specialist. See a car in front of you that is on your hotsheet of stolen cars and plate numbers. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Some of the other defendants actually stole cars from the airport parking lots. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. If the vehicle owner does find their vehicle, they should tell the police in charge of vehicle investigations. A police officer can visit the database while interacting with vehicles on the road. [4] Some police departments have a dedicated toll-free number you can call to report an abandoned vehicle. If someone is caught driving a stolen car, they can be charged with possession of a stolen vehicle. Motor vehicle theft is a common crime in America with hundreds of thousands of cars being stolen every year. How Long Does It Take for A Stolen Car to Be Found? You must close all of your windows entirely. The Atlanta Police Department said last year there were 586 stolen Hyundai or Kia vehicles. The police will also attempt to track down the owner of the car. If you leave your vehicle parked on a public street, it will be more likely to get stolen. Once you have a police report number, contact your insurance company. near Zeeb Rd. How do cops find stolen vehicles? Dont Miss: Can I File A Restraining Order At The Police Station. What the heck? If you dont take these steps within a reasonable timeideally immediatelyyoull not only not have a car, but you could be accused of crimes that were committed with your vehicle even if it was stolen. This can be a complex process, and there are many steps that need to be followed in order to find the car and bring the perpetrators to justice. A GPS device sending and receiving signals from these satellites can be located virtually anywhere in the world to precise geographic coordinates, usually within fifteen feet! Safety for officers and innocent motorists must be paramount. Recommended Reading: How To Search Police Records. Filing a report with the department of motor vehicles is a separate step from filing a police report. For example, a blue Nissan plates could be found on a black Ford, which indicates possible theft. Below, we outline the steps you should follow if your vehicle has been stolen. This includes taking photographs of the car, recording the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), and checking for any outstanding warrants or tickets that may be associated with the car. The driver is pulled over for further investigations and possible arrest. The video evidence is important to compare with an arrested suspect caught with your stolen vehicle. They use a global network of scanners to detect the signals of any nearby cell phones. Run plates of vehicles that have one plate number on the front and a different one on the back. I have worked at General Motors Company for over five years as the Marketing Operations Production Coordinator. The most commonly stolen vehicles are older model sedans and SUVs, which can be easily sold or stripped for parts. The penalties for this crime can range from a fine to imprisonment. It is crucial that you lock the doors of your vehicles with another set of keys when you are warming it up. Again, your insurance may not cover this. After the police, your auto insurer should be your next call. A car can be stripped entirely of parts within a few days. Contact the police. Ask yourself if the car was moved by mistake ? Next, reach out to your insurance company to file a claim. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. By contrast, some steps will make your car much easier to steal. How Long Does It Take for A Stolen Car to Be in The System? If you lose your keys,a thief can find your address and then steal your car without having to do any damage. This can be a complex process, and there are many steps that need to be followed in order to find the car and bring the perpetrators to justice. The owner of the car was escorting one child to a nearby bus stop while another child . Approximate time the vehicle was stolen. Investigate damaged vehicles to see if the resulting dents and scratches jibe with the accident report. How the police investigate the stolen car is not by hitting the pavement and searching their parking lots and old junkyards. There is an essential procedure for how the police investigate a stolen car. The following tips will make it harder and less attractive for a thief to steal your car: Ultimately, in an ideal world, we wouldnt have to worry about car theft however, knowing what to do and being prepared for every eventuality is the key to getting life back to normal if your car is stolen. - Explained, Reasons Why Police Officers Touch Your Car When They Stop, Here's How To Get Car Accident Police Report Online, Was My Car Repossessed Or Stolen? Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. 2. It just doesnt happen. Installing a newly-purchased car into your garage is a great feeling. The following tips will make it harder and less attractive for a thief to steal your car: Ultimately, in an ideal world, we wouldnt have to worry about car theft however, knowing what to do and being prepared for every eventuality is the key to getting life back to normal if your car is stolen. Moreover, video surveillance may not identify the suspect or involved vehicles without a reliable witness. 2021 KnowYourPolice.net Careful examination of the vehicle will give the investigator or technician an idea of what types of evidence might be present. The police will continue to investigate a stolen car until they find either the owner or the thief. Youd be responsible for the deductible amount with your auto insurance claim. Some cars are stolen but then abandoned in much worse conditions. When a car is reported stolen to the police, they will begin their investigation by gathering information about the vehicle. But if you have comprehensive coverage, theres a good chance your auto policy will cover theft. In some states, police vehicles with onboard computers (automated license plate readers) autonomously scan license plates in real time. If youre the victim of car theft, report your stolen car to law enforcement and file a claim with your car insurance company. Perhaps before the report is assigned. Before you panic too much, call 911 or study up on how to create a terrible hex for a car thief, you might want to save a little embarrassment and confirm your vehicle has actually been stolen. The first step for Police to recover a stolen car is to take the license plate number and put it into an area of law enforcement search engines. Certain apps and services can track and send notifications if a vehicle is stolen. A car without a tag or a fake tag all flag vehicles police officers check to know if they are stolen. Typically when an officer sees a stolen vehicle they will verify the vehicle is in fact stolen before any action is taken. They can also search for a car in places used by criminals. But its better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. For example, the stolen car recovery rate in Washington was 71%, in Utah was 63%, but only 28% in Alabama. Stolen vehicles reported to the police department are logged into a database accessible nationwide. So, the ratio of recovered vehicles is roughly 20% of the total stolen vehicle list. A few of the ways image analysis can help include: Keep in mind, a lot of the image analysis technology is new. Using these cameras has improved how police investigate stolen cars. They can also look for the vehicle by checking traffic cameras. Run the license plate through the National crime information center NCIC it is a database. If it is determined that the car was in fact stolen, then the insurance company will pay out on the claim. When a car is stolen, the first and foremost step is to call the police. No matter where your car got stolen, such as the dealership, driveway, garage, valet parking, or a mechanic shop, you can trace your stolen vehicle with the GPS quickly. A car immobilizer system can prevent this. They can do this by looking for registration records or contacting the manufacturer of the car in order to find out who purchased it. Officer 3. ANN ARBOR - Michigan State Police First District announced that officers located a stolen vehicle early Monday morning on Jackson Rd. Consider if the car could have been towed. How Does Police Investigate A Stolen Car? According to investigators, some of the defendants appeared at car-rental counters at John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport in which they presented both fake IDs and credit cards in order to rent vehicles. Some of these vehicles are pre-smart key, meaning that they are more attractive to thieves. It is worth checking with any businesses near where you were parked to see if they might have captured the car thief on camera. 2. Chicago also records high crime rates than the national average. It doesnt include personal property that may have been taken. Recommended Reading: How To Search Police Records. How Do Police Investigate A Stolen Car. Conduct financial reviews on claimants. In the Midwest, the ratio of car recovery is about 24%. He has been writing for multiple sectors and is a regular contributor to several publications. We will also discuss some tips for what you should do if your car is stolen, and some other things to keep in mind if you are ever in this situation. Have you ever looked inside your pocket and realized your iPhone was missing? This is yet another thing you need to know when dealing with vehicle thefts. Lets dive in. Unfortunately, most people who have their vehicles stolen do not get them back. In the San Gabriel Valley, it has jumped 96% since 1984, according to FBI crime statistics. Better yet, unlike the previous iteration of car tracking devices, such as LoJack, the police wont need to devote extra resources to triangulate the stolen cars signal. If they are unable to find the owner, they may auction off the car. If an officer finds a truck license plate on a passenger vehicle, it is a sign of a stolen car. Other people have it for personal reasons. This publication tackles the question how do police investigate stolen car?. To stop the auto thefts, Los Angeles County has begun installing a high-tech homing device network designed to help police track down stolen vehicles. When a car is reported stolen to the police, they will begin their investigation by gathering information about the vehicle. When your car was stolen, the car thief would park your car somewhere and then abandoned it. Can You Drive a Car with a Bad Alternator? When you report a stolen car to your local police department, a report entry begins. However, if there no timely video equipment, the investigation can be challenging. For example, OnStar and LoJack have tracking devices to locate your car. Thieves wont feel compelled to break into your car this way. Continue with Recommended Cookies. But before we discuss what to do when an automobile is stolen,first lets discuss how to prevent car thefts in the first place! A GPS Device for tracking can lead you, and law enforcement, directly to your stolen automobile. OnStar can remotely slow down the car and prevent thieves from restarting it. When a car is stolen, the first thing most people think is that the police will investigate the crime and find the perpetrator. Related Content: GPS Tracker For Car Anti Theft, When dealing with vehicle thefts, success starts with vehicle theft prevention techniques! Unfortunately, most people who have their vehicles stolen do not get them back. If you are a victim of identity theft, contact your local police department. If a vehicle is stolen for parts, it will be stripped within a week. Overall, the national average is approximately 20% for stolen vehicle recovery. And, a lot of people install dash cams in their own cars. Below are the ways they find your stolen vehicle: An officer will drive to areas around in the city where stolen cars are routinely dumped. I have worked at General Motors Company for over five years as the Marketing Operations Production Coordinator. The police will then enter the stolen car into a database of stolen vehicles. You will be notified on the impound location where the associated fees will be paid. They will also try to trace the vehicle identification number. Lock all doors, windows, and the trunk. Some jurisdictions simply don't accept phone calls regarding abandoned vehicles. One of the essential features of using this database is an international database. The police will also reach out to the owner of the car to get more information about the theft. United States most common crimes are stolen cars. While getting your car stolen can be overwhelming, there are immediate steps youll need to take to ensure that you dont face any repercussions. You must report the vehicle crime at the earliest for the claims process. About UsDisclaimerCookie PolicyPrivacy PolicyTerms & ConditionsWrite for UsContact Us. I love cars and love to share everything about them with my readers. 6 Proven Ways to Prove Someone Keyed Your Car [Guide]. Just like their names suggest, GPS devices work with the network of satellites making up the Global Positioning System. In this blog post, we will take a look at what happens when a car is reported as stolen. Thieves often break into cars to steal valuables. One of the Most Common Crimes in America Is Stolen Cars. Therefore, these loud alarms deter vehicle thefts. When the car does steal, the Police search their database to see it. If your vehicle is considered as a total loss, youll get the actual cash value of your car from the company. If you do not have a GPS tracker in your vehicle, you should purchase a GPS tracking service for your vehicle. There are many different ways that Police investigate a stolen car. If someone is caught driving a stolen car, they can be charged with possession of a stolen vehicle. By. A car owner would have to file a stolen car report, then wait. Here is the basic procedure for how the police investigate a stolen car. The police will drive over to the area and verify that the vehicle they found is theirs. What Happen When Your Car is Stolen then Found? As much as wed like to believe the police have your best interests at heart, theres only so much they can do. You search while pressing the alarm button on your keys, but you cannot hear the honk of your particular vehicle. If you see random people lurking around, park elsewhere. How Do Police Investigate A Stolen Car After a car is reported stolen, the police will begin their investigation. I am an Automotive specialist. So, it may take two days for your vehicle license plate to be on the stolen vehicle list after your car was stolen. If a pursuit is initiated, then the officer should keep in mind that the stolen vehicle is still a property crime unless there are mitigating factors such as a carjacking, it was used in an armed robbery or a violent crime. Such incidences usually occur during winter when people leave their vehicle engine running before driving out. They can look up records, find out who used to own the vehicles, and get in touch with the police from the owners area. Mention unique modifications, like tinted windows or modified exhausts. A lot of cars now come equipped with dash cams. Well, now imagine if your car is stolen. The overwhelming majority of vehicle pursuits are initiated for traffic violations. Homing devices for individual cars are scheduled to be on the market June 1 and will cost about $600. You can get a car insurance quote instantly from most agencies in your local area and they can also provide more information that will help you regarding car stolen situations. If the license plate of a car does not match the vehicle description after a plate check, it is a big sign for the officer. Thieves who steal cars often do so because they live on the streets and have no other way to get around town. Hidden within the inner structure of your vehicle, a GPS tracking device may be located after the car is stolen, enabling law enforcement to track the vehicle and its movements in real time! Some of these require you to play amateur sleuth. Once they have any possible witnesses, the police will then try to track down the car using the GPS system. Once it is determined that the vehicle is reported to be stolen, an officer will attempt to stop it using just lights and siren. These are the fiercest forms of car thefts and have many times resulted in violence. Manage Settings How to Diagnose Alternator Problems & Test if Bad. When leaving your car unattended for an extended period, use the anti-theft devices installed by the car manufacturer or consider purchasing a car alarm system. This article has been viewed 61,102 times.Learn more. CarSuperCare.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. It Is not often that a stolen vehicle is returned to its owner. You can contact your insurance company to inform them of the development. Smart keys, kill switches, and remote ignition verification is all part of immobilizer systems. The Auto Unit is responsible for document fraud investigations. Further, it can do through a process of elimination. Cars with crooked license plates, temporary tags (especially out-of-state tags) and busted out windows covered with bags are signs that a car may be stolen. In that case, dont wait to contact the local police or your insurance company. The vehicle owner must report the missing vehicle to the police station and give them all the necessary information. And wait. This happens prior to the written report. Dont expect them to be banging down doors and studying miles and miles of surveillance cameras to find your Honda Accord. Similarly, it may take up to 11 to 15 days to recover a stolen car. Obtain a report number from the police department, so you can begin contacting credit bureaus, financial institutions, or affected agencies. Then the police is given the task of investigating about what actually happened.