Ukrainian refugees often face various difficulties abroad, and among them there are cases of car theft. Such a situation can become stressful, but correct and timely actions will help reduce the risks and speed up the resolution of the problem. IA “FAKT” provides a detailed algorithm of actions in case of car theft abroad.
Police report
Contact your local police immediately. Call law enforcement and report the incident. In the conversation, mention:
– make, model and year of manufacture of the car;
– color and registration number;
– special features of the car (stickers, damage, other details).
Wait for the police to arrive. The law enforcement officers will examine the scene of the abduction, record your statements and, if necessary, interview possible witnesses.
Write a statement in which you describe the circumstances of the theft in detail, attach a copy of the technical passport for the car, as well as recent photos or videos of the car, if any.
Get the abduction document. After submitting the application, you will be issued with an official document (for example, a report or certificate) that will be useful for the insurance company or other official procedures.
Notification of the insurance company
If your insurance policy covers theft:
- Contact your insurance company as soon as possible.
- Provide a copy of your police report, vehicle registration certificate and any other documents required by your insurance company.
- Find out about the next steps to get compensation.
Independent actions for finding a car
Even if the police are on the case, your own efforts can be helpful:
- Check online car search databases. Many countries have open databases of stolen cars. This allows you to make sure that your car has not been found.
- Post an ad on social media. Post about the abduction in local groups on Facebook or other social networks. Enter all important details and leave your contact details. This can help find witnesses or even get clues about the car’s location.
Precautions to avoid abduction
To reduce the risk of car theft abroad, follow the basic safety rules:
Park your car in safe places. Choose guarded parking lots or well-lit areas.
Use additional protection. Mechanical steering wheel or gearbox locks make theft significantly more difficult.
Do not leave valuables in the cabin. This can attract the attention of criminals.
Consider installing a GPS tracker. For example, inexpensive wireless tags such as AirTag or SmartTag allow you to track the location of a car via a smartphone.
Even with proper protection, it is impossible to completely avoid the risk of theft. Therefore, it is always important to have copies of documents with you, to keep the contacts of the insurance company and the number of the emergency police service of the host country. If you are traveling abroad, familiarize yourself with the specifics of local laws and traffic rules in advance.
The right actions in the event of a car theft will help minimize the negative consequences and speed up the return of your property or compensation. Take care and be vigilant!
