This post is part of a sponsored series.
A few years ago, I was living in St. Paul on a quiet but frequently traveled side street. My husband (then boyfriend) was visiting me one night, and when he went back to his vehicle to go home, he discovered in the few hours he was there, someone had broken into his car. They stole his laptop bag (with laptop in it), cell phone, wallet and cash he had in his console. He learned quickly to not leave these things laying out for others to see through the window, but the damage was done. And it can happen to anyone. So what do you do when your vehicle is broken into? Here’s what you need to know.
1) Check your surroundings. Your first instinct will probably be to check out your car, but as this New York Hyundai dealer recommends, first take a step back and make sure you are safe.
2) Call the police. Explain what happened and try to remember everything you may have had in your vehicle. You’ll need to file a police report and details are always helpful.
3) Cancel your credit cards. Take this moment, right here, right now, to create a list (or take photos) of your credit cards, account numbers, and customer service numbers on the back of the card. Keep this in a safe area of your home, not in your wallet or purse! In the event that your car is broken into or wallet lost or stolen, you’ll have the information you need to quickly cancel them or put the cards on hold. In this situation, time is money!
4) Consider filing an insurance claim. Depending on the damage and the cost of items taken, it may make sense to file an insurance claim in your situation. Sometimes if auto insurance doesn’t cover it, homeowners or renters insurance will.
5) Get your vehicle fixed. To prevent further crime from happening to your vehicle, it’s important to get your vehicle fixed up.
Lastly, it’s probably the first thing on your mind from now on but make sure you don’t leave any valuable items out in plain view when you leave your car. Hide things under the seat, in the glove box or in the trunk to prevent your vehicle from being burglarized again.
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