When it comes to home security, it’s terrifying to have your car broken into—especially while it’s still in your driveway. While the facts of the situation cannot be reversed, there are a few steps you can take to address the situation. Should this ever happen to you, here’s what you need to know.

What to Do if Your Car Is Broken Into

1. Photograph Everything

Before cleaning up or going through anything, take pictures. This will help you with the next step. You don’t need to use special equipment—photos from a camera phone will suffice. If you have a home security system with video monitoring, pull up the footage as well.

2. Take Inventory

Once you have photos, you can write down what was taken. This can be difficult if you tend to pack a lot in your car, but start wherever you can. Were personal items stolen, like a gym bag or briefcase; or, was did they take the stereo system? Don’t forget about the outside, too. Thieves commonly take things like rims, tires, and license plates.

3. File a Police Report

If you’re in a big city, you may be able to file a report online. But, you’ll most likely need to go down to the station. Be prepared—the more information you have to offer, the better. As mentioned earlier, having a home security system that can record video will be a major boon to the investigation.

4. Set Up Fraud Alert

If something with your personal information was stolen from your car, contact the various credit bureaus to place a fraud alert for your record. This will prevent the thieves from using your information to open a new credit account. The Federal Trade Commission has more information about this service on their website.

If you’re a resident of the Oregon City, OR, area and don’t currently have some type of home security and surveillance system, ClearView Security & Home Automation can help. Their 24/7 continuous video monitoring and recording can give you significant evidence, should you ever need it. It also doubles as a deterrent against future crimes. You can learn more about this on their website. Or, if you’d like a direct consultation, call them today at (855) 709-4466.