If Your Car Was Stolen With Keys Inside, Follow the Police Process
As we enter "Puffing season" with the cold weather, leaving cars running while keys are inside is a popular theft tactic. It is advisable to report the police if your car is stolen and the keys are in the car.
Insurance policies differ however, comprehensive coverage typically protects cars even if keys are locked inside. However, personal belongings are typically covered by homeowners or renters insurance and not car insurance.
Theft
A lot of car thieves just take advantage of vehicles with keys in them. It's a method that works: a driver gets distracted and the next thing they realize is that their car is gone. It's a cycle that must be broken and the best way to do that is to ensure that you take your keys with you when you leave your car, regardless of the location you park it.
A car is stolen every 32 seconds, and Americans lose an average of $8 billion every year due to vehicle thefts. It is important not to leave your keys in your car unattended especially when you reside in a high-crime zone.
Thieves are now extremely skilled when they are able to steal vehicles that have key fobs inside them, making it even more important to be vigilant. The thieves can employ relay attacks signal jamming, relay attacks, or any other techniques to hack into the system of a vehicle and reprogram a key fob. They can also use an "slim jim" which is a tool that fits into the cavity of a door at the base window, to alter the locking mechanisms or links.
Hotwiring is another technique that involves taking out the ignition cord from the vehicle and then using an electrical current to ignite the motor. It's a trick that's popular among teenagers who don't have a full-time job and are looking to make an easy buck. It's also a method for criminals to steal vehicles to engage in joyriding or for other criminal acts.
Dealerships can secure themselves by using vehicles tracking systems and performing regular audits of their key inventory and vehicle records to detect discrepancies and potential security breaches. They should also urge drivers to use the Faraday box, or signal-blocking pouch when they store their keys as it can help stop relay attacks and hacking.
If you happen to leave the car running and keys inside with ignition on the ignition, your insurance company will likely cover the loss If you have Comprehensive coverage. However, your insurer might conduct a credit check or other checks to confirm that the claim is legitimate before you're reimbursed.
Damage
If you leave your car unlocked or running with the keys inside is almost asking it to be taken. It only takes an opportunistic criminal a few seconds to get in and drive away. If you have insurance that is comprehensive your insurance provider may be able to be able to cover the theft. However, some policies exclude cars that have keys inside from being covered. If you're concerned that your policy will not cover this, consider switching to a different auto insurance provider.
Some states have specific laws that dictate how a car owner is liable for a vehicle theft with the keys inside. It's important to know the rules, since they differ from state to states. In the majority of cases, if an accident occurs while the thief is driving the car, the owner of the vehicle is not liable. This is due to the fact that the thief is not considered an insured driver. The car owner is also not responsible for items that are stolen from a vehicle, as they are covered by renters insurance or homeowners insurance insurance.
It is crucial to report the car theft to police and your insurance company immediately. This will speed up the process and increase your chances of recovering your property. It is essential to be aware that multiple claims may affect your insurance rate. Discuss this with your agent to see how it will affect your policy in the future.
If you want to prevent your vehicle from being taken while the keys are inside, make sure you lock it and close the windows every time you leave. It is also a good idea to keep an extra key in a safe place, and not in the vehicle. If you have to leave the vehicle running while you leave, make sure to shut off the ignition and put the vehicle in park before you exit.
You should not keep valuables such as MP3 players or laptops in your car. You could be able to make a separate claim if you have added non-permanent items to your vehicle like an USB device that is connected to the accessory port.
Insurance
Theft of vehicles causes Americans $8 billion per annum. The majority of cars are covered by insurance policies in the event that they are stolen. However there are a few circumstances where your policy will not be able to replace or repair your vehicle. If you have keys locked in your car and it's taken away, this is one such situation. This is not the most typical scenario but it does occur.
Your policy will determine whether or not your vehicle is covered in this situation. Most policies that provide comprehensive insurance will cover a stolen car, even if the keys are inside. However, the amount that your insurance company will pay will be dependent on the limits of your policy as well as the deductible.
If you have a liability-only insurance policy your car is likely to be stolen if the keys are in it but you'll be compensation of $10,000 or so. If you have comprehensive insurance on your vehicle, you can make a claim for the full value of your vehicle and everything inside it (minus the deductible).
There is a major caveat that comes with this scenario: Insurance companies could consider putting your keys in your car as a sign of negligence. Many insurers require their customers to take reasonable care of their vehicles, including making sure they are locked when not in use and never left running. If you live in a region where car thefts are a common occurrence and your insurance company may increase your cost.
There are other ways to protect your car from theft, by installing an anti-theft system or other security features. You should also verify whether you have insurance on your property in place. Insurance policies for homeowners and renters typically cover personal property, which covers your possessions in the event they are lost or stolen on or off premises. You can save time and money by filing both claims in one go in the case of a property and auto insurance bundle.
Recovery
Follow the police procedure to recover your car after it has been stolen and keys hidden inside. Report the theft to the local police department. Make sure you give them all the information they require about the vehicle, including the VIN, license plate, year, model, make, location, and any distinctive characteristics.
After filing a police report the police, they will begin looking for your car. They will use various methods to locate it, such as interviewing witnesses, analyzing physical evidence and reviewing surveillance footage. During this process, it's essential to be patient and to keep in touch with the police periodically for updates.
If your vehicle is rescued, it may need to be inspected by an insurance claims adjuster to determine the condition of the vehicle. If the vehicle is in a safe driving condition and the damage occurred even though it was not under your control, your comprehensive insurance will pay you for it. The amount you be paid is based on the value of your vehicle and the deductible of your auto insurance policy and any additional insurance that you might have, such as homeowners or renters.
Another option that could differ depending on the instructions of the police or your insurance company is to notify your state's Department of Motor Vehicles about the vehicle that was stolen. This will include your vehicle's information to a national database of stolen vehicles, making it more difficult for criminals to sell or register stolen vehicles in the future.
If you discovered any credit or debit cards found in the vehicle you stole, contact the banks to freeze them. This will help prevent identity theft and more info fraudulent charges. If you have renters or homeowners insurance, it's also an excellent idea to notify your insurer, since items in your vehicle are usually covered under those policies. In certain cases you might be able combine the claims from both policies in order to receive a larger amount of money for the items you lost.