As parents, we rarely want to receive a phone call before 7 AM from our children. Those calls are usually like the one my husband and I received this spring from our daughter, who called to say her car wasn’t in the apartment parking space, where she had parked the night before. Right away, I started with the questions – did you call the police? Does the complex tow for any reason? Is there broken glass? Did you hear anything? As it turns out, she is like over 850,000 other Americans who had their car stolen in the last year.

So, what can you do to protect your ride?

• Always lock your car and make sure the windows are up.
• Never leave valuables in the car, especially any that you can see. For instance, a few years back, a friend went to a state bowling tournament (and left thousands of dollars of expensive bowling balls in the back of an SUV). Evidently, even thieves pay attention to the bowling schedule and help themselves to all the equipment. It was a very costly trip.
• Park in well-lit areas if possible.
• Activate car alarms and vehicle manufacturer anti-theft systems.
• Never leave your vehicle running, unattended. (How often do you hear of a car taken with a child in the back seat, and the parents just ran in the house or store to get something quickly?)

If you discover your vehicle has been taken, here are some steps to help with recovery or getting your insurance claim on the way:

• Call local law enforcement as soon as possible. You will likely need a copy of the report for insurance.
• Call your insurance company to report the theft within 24 hours.
• Activate any theft recovery programs provided by your auto manufacturer.

Other considerations – think about hiding a Bluetooth tracker in your glove box or under a seat, so that if your car is taken, you can help the authorities recover it. It really is important to keep your vehicle tidy and never leave your work keys, computer bag, money, or other valuables in the car overnight. Thieves are window shoppers, just like you. They wonder what is in your gym bag or under the blanket in the back seat. If you are heading to an event, like a concert or game, and plan to stash some valuables in the trunk, do it before you get to the destination. Thieves may be hanging out in parking lots waiting for you to walk away, after they watched you stash your purse and tablet. At home, check into installing video cameras in areas that film where your vehicles are typically parked.

On the positive side for our family, after almost a week, my daughter’s car showed up at a tow lot. She actually found it before the police. It had minor damage but had to be taken to the dealer to have the keys reprogrammed and a few other minor repairs. While she got her car back, it took money out of her emergency fund to cover the deductible, and she lost a personal day while she waited for the police and arranged for a rental car.

Writer: Lisa Barlage, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ross County.

Reviewer: Laura Halladay, Program Specialist, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension.