Car Broken into. What to do?

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Glad you filed a police report. They may not do anything, but at least they know about it, and if everyone in your complex notifies them of even the most minor break ins, maybe they will start partroling the lot or just starting to be more aware of what's going on in your area.

Is there someplace safe you can leave your truck while you're in England? What a drag it would be to come back to a broken window or something.

[gini]

Let me just say that I am so sorry that this is happened. It makes you so angry that some punk has nothing better to do but mess up your car for what??

Petty theft seems to be racheting up in California too.

[elizabethann]

I'm sorry to hear about your car. All of that for cigarettes? Amazing.

My car was broken into once while it was parked in the driveway. They stole a pair of sunglasses and my tokens for the tolls. I was pi$$ed. And I felt so violated. Luckily, there was no damage (door was unlocked).

[IRescue452]

Sorry about your car. You should all file non-emergency police reports if you want to possibly get your stuff back. I go to police auctions twice a year to buy cd's and many have names in the cd case or written in sharpie on the cd but nobody claims them. I got 184 cd's in two cases that were both stolen from the same person (same initials on some cds in both cases) and never claimed.

[Rachel]

Just wanted to explain my reasoning for suggesting you not contact your insurance company if you are going to pay for this yourself.

My experience with the reporting was with a water line which froze in my home and caused some damage in the basement. I called my insurance company to inform them of the problem immediately but never filed an actual claim because the damage was repaired for under the deductible amount. Years later when I was trying to find another insurance company, I discovered that incident was on my *permanent record* which the other companies have access to. Since we didn't have anything else after living her 14 years, it did not prevent us from getting the insurance, but I was shocked to know that this one informational phone call was *on the record* and could be used in determination about my insurability.

Another reason is that your insurance company may conclude that you are living in an area where these type of crimes occur and thus are subject to a higher risk (and higher rate).

I am in favor of informing the police, if for no other reason than they should be aware where these types of crime are occuring and maybe they will keep a watch out.

[jazzcat]

Sorry to hear this happened to you.

Years ago when I was working at Children's Hospital and about to graduate college my car was broken into along with two others in the hospital parking lot. My stereo was stolen along with my book bag (police said the used it to carry the stereos). Luckily they dumped out my books which were worth more than all three stereos combined. Anyway, I contacted my insurance and was given a check. My rates didn't go up.