Could my car be stolen?
Over 16,000 cars were stolen in 2022 in Minnesota, representing more than $200 million in losses to victims. According to law enforcement, the majority of these incidents involved vehicles with the keys left in the cars by owners.
In 2020, theft of motor vehicles increased in Minnesota at double the rate of the U.S. as a whole. What’s more, it doesn’t matter what time of day it is, what neighborhood you live in, what kind of car you drive, or where you park it. Your car is at risk of being stolen, especially when you leave the keys inside.
How does car theft impact me? My car hasn’t been stolen.
Even if your own car isn’t stolen, higher insurance premiums mean you still might be paying for your neighbor’s stolen car. Your auto insurer will look at the crime statistics and decide the fact you live in a particular area means a higher financial risk for them as a company – so they charge you more on the front end to cover that perceived risk.
How can I keep my car from being stolen?
- Always take your keys when you park your car.
- Make sure the doors and windows are locked.
- Never leave a car running unattended.
- Don’t leave valuables in your vehicle.
- If you get your car back, it might contain body fluids, used needles or other debris, to the point where you may not want it anymore. Additionally, you could be responsible for paying any impound fees and for necessary repairs, even though your car was stolen.
“A lot of people think, ‘My car isn’t going to get stolen. That’s not going to happen to me.’ But it can happen to you.”
Minnesota police officer and auto theft expert
What To Do If Your Car Is Stolen
- Don’t panic. Double check to make sure you didn’t simply forget where you parked or parked somewhere that would cause your car to be towed.
- Call the police. Report the theft and be as detailed as you can – make, model, license plate number. Also report any valuables you had inside the car, such as computers, firearms, etc.
- Call your insurance company. They need to know you’re not the one driving your car at the moment.
- Assess security threats. Cancel any credit or debit cards that may have been left in the car. If your work ID badge was in the car, notify your company. If house keys or a garage door opener were in the car, change the locks.
- Post about it on social media. This does two things: gets your friends looking for your car and makes them more careful about their own cars.
- If you happen to locate your car, it is important to call police and not get in or move the vehicle until police have had the opportunity to check out the car and remove it from the national stolen vehicle database. Police treat auto theft as a dangerous situation, you do not want them to mistake you for the person who stole your car!
Automobile Theft Prevention Program
The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension’s Automobile Theft Prevention Program works to reduce automobile theft for law enforcement and consumers through public awareness campaigns, community outreach, and law enforcement efforts