Vehicle theft is a very real and growing problem across North America. While it’s probably not something you consider on a daily basis, there is a small, but real possibility that you could be a victim.
Here are some steps to take if your vehicle gets stolen:
Make sure it’s actually stolen:
Before you panic and call the police, take the time to make sure your car is actually missing. If you’re in a big parking lot, it’s entirely possible that you just can’t remember where you parked your vehicle.
If you’ve done a diligent search and still can’t find it anywhere, consider whether it could’ve been towed. If you have a number of outstanding parking tickets or were parked near a fire hydrant or in a no-parking zone, it may have simply been picked up by a tow truck.
Call the Police:
If you don’t believe it could’ve been towed and you have reasonable cause to believe your car was stolen, you should call the police immediately. The faster the police are made aware of the situation, the greater the odds are that your vehicle will be recovered.
Once the police arrive, make sure to file a police report providing as much detail as possible. The more they know, the easier it will be to find the car.
If you have OnStar, Ford Pass or a similar type of app/navigation system you should call them too. OnStar and Ford Pass continue to track your vehicle even if you stopped paying the subscription fees, so don’t assume your car won’t be recovered if you’ve previously unsubscribed from their service.
Contact your insurance company:
Once the police have been notified, and you’ve called OnStar, you’ll need to contact your insurance company to set up a claim. This process can take some time, so it’s better to avoid procrastinating and start it right away.
Contact ON Roads:
Call 1-833-ONROADS and follow the prompts to be connected with your selling dealer. The professionals in the Finance and Insurance department at the dealership will walk you through the ON Roads claims process and ensure you get the full benefit of your coverage and can also assist with connecting you with a replacement vehicle if you choose.
Ask people nearby:
Ask people in the area if they saw any suspicious behaviour. It’s unlikely that they’ll remember your specific vehicle, but at this point, it’s worth the try.
Avoid it happening in the future:
It should go without saying, but you should never go anywhere without locking your car – even if you’re quickly going inside to pay for gas.
Don’t leave your vehicle running, and make sure to always roll up your windows whenever you leave your car unattended. A thief is more likely to go after a vehicle that’s easy to steal, so it’s in your best interest to make it as difficult as possible for them to take.
Finally, in order to mitigate your losses in the event it does get stolen, avoid keeping anything of value in your car.
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