According to statistics, several tens of thousands of cars are stolen in Russia in a year. Today, the authorities cannot influence this in any way. There are groups in every city that, according to the established scheme, carry out theft.
Every motorist should know in such a situation how to make a traffic police call. If the driver’s number is not known, then he can report the theft by phone 102. In addition, the driver must know what to do if the car was stolen, where to call. 
Contact the police
The first step is to contact the police. If you stole a car, what to do first? When a car theft was discovered, you must call 102 or dial the traffic police number. Traffic police officers immediately leave for the robbery site. Each call of the traffic police or law enforcement is recorded. To file a police statement, you need to tell the make of the car, color, registration numbers and the place from which the theft was committed. One must understand that the faster the loss is declared, the less time the thief has to hide the car.
After a call to law enforcement, the applicant needs to come to the police department and write a statement. Never agree if the department suggests not writing a theft statement. With this, law enforcement agencies want to rid themselves of bad statistics if the case is not solved. Be sure to check that the application is registered in the registration document.
After completing all the documents, it is necessary to ask the nearest traffic police to check for the presence of a stolen car in a special vehicle theft base.
Important point
The car owner should make sure that the car was stolen and not taken by relatives or the tow truck took the car. Possible cases of disappearance of a car:
- The car was taken by a tow truck for a violation or during the holiday the car was moved to another place. To clarify the evacuation of the vehicle, you must call the city displacement service.
- Perhaps one of the relatives took the car.
- The owner forgot where he parked the car.
If the car was found, be sure to inform the police about it.
In what situation to file a theft
If you stole a car, what to do and in what situations do you need to file a police report? There are two types of car theft:
- Car theft without theft. In such a situation, the thief uses the vehicle to drive or to commit another crime.
- Deliberate theft of property.
There are situations when the owner of the machine transfers it to another person on the basis of a power of attorney or for temporary use. But at a certain and agreed time, the car is not returned to the owner. In this case, do not contact the police. If the owner of the vehicle voluntarily transferred the car to another person, then law enforcement agencies will not register the case as car theft. In such a situation, the victim must go to court with a lawsuit to return property from someone else's (illegal) property.
How to file a police report
If you nevertheless stole a car, then the driver needs to drive to the police station and apply for the theft. The written statement must indicate when and where the car was left, as well as at what time the loss was discovered.
Write a statement to the owner of the car in person.The main actions that the owner of the vehicle must perform:
- in order for the police to start the search, it is necessary to convince them of the theft;
- confirm the rights to the car;
- describe in detail the details of the transport.
In order to confirm the rights of the owner, the driver must have with him the following documents for the car: vehicle passport and certificate of registration. In addition, the statement should indicate all the valuables that were in the car (in the glove compartment, trunk, passenger compartment). After such a statement, the police begin the search for the loss.
During the testimony, the victim needs to focus on the fact that no one had access to the second set of keys and that relatives could not take the car. The following accurate data must be provided:
- car mileage;
- the amount of fuel remaining in the tank;
- data on the anti-theft device that is installed in the car (if it was installed);
- describe the special features of the machine.
After the testimony is given, all documents are executed, the police can pick up the keys and the car registration document. It is necessary in such a situation to ask the police for a receipt for the seizure of documents.
Conducting independent searches
If you stole a car, what should the car owner do directly? The driver, if desired, can start his own search for a vehicle. This may increase the chances of success.
If you stole a car, where to look for a driver in the first place? Most thieves try to hide a car in neighboring areas for a couple of days. Therefore, the driver of a stolen vehicle should go around the nearest housing estates. Perhaps it was there that a stolen car was left.
In order to conduct an independent search, you can use social networks, forums and special groups for motorists. It is necessary to inform as many people as possible about the theft of the car. Perhaps people will respond, on whose registrars the stolen car was recorded. It should be remembered that there are special bases on the Internet where, for a fee, you can place an announcement about the theft of a car.
Internet service of stolen vehicles
On the Internet, the Car-Monitoring dispatch center and Car Hijacking.net have created a service that aims to search for stolen cars. The service is considered one of the most effective online resources for finding missing motor vehicles.
After filling out an application for theft on the website of the dispatch company Car-Monitoring (Car-Monitoring.ru), the stolen car will be displayed in the database of stolen cars. In addition, this information automatically appears on social networks and comes in the form of SMS to the mobile number of community members.
It should be noted that in the submitted information there is no contact information of the victim. This was done specifically so that the thief could not contact the applicant and demand, for example, a ransom. Information about the stolen transport can be provided exclusively through the dispatch service. With the help of this service, thousands of caring people connect to the search for a stolen car.
On the same site there is the opportunity to use the base "suspicious cars". This database contains photos of cars that attract the most attention: broken glass, removed license plates, broken car locks, and so on. 
Insurance payout
Compensation for car theft to the driver must be reimbursed by the insurance company. This is possible if the car was insured against theft by special CASCO insurance.
If you stole a car, what to do with insurance, and what documents about the theft should be presented to insurers? Within two days from the moment of the accident, the insurance company must submit a statement drawn up by the police. In addition, the application must include all the remaining sets of keys, documents for cars and insurance.Based on this statement, insurers must indemnify.
If the victim has no documents or keys left (they were seized by the police or stolen), then insurers have the right to refuse compensation for the loss. If documents and keys are seized by law enforcement agencies, then an official receipt must be presented. In such a situation, the insurance company will ask you to wait with reimbursement until the investigation is closed.
Compensation is paid differently for each insurance company. Some pay compensation within a month after the initiation of the theft case, and some are waiting for the closure of the case. If the police find a stolen car, the insurance company will pick it up for itself.
Removing a stolen vehicle from the register
If you stole a car, what to do with its registration? To do this, the victim should contact the traffic police. They will remove it from registration, and the owner will not have to pay tax for a stolen car. In this situation, the car is deregistered and in its absence.
The applicant needs to fill out an application to the STSI. Application forms are available on site. This procedure does not require payment of state duty. If the vehicle is found, then you can easily register again.
If you stole a car, then for deregistration, the owner must have a certain set of documents with him. The list of required securities includes:
- an application filled out on a special form (a sample application, like the form will be provided on the spot);
- identity document of the driver;
- vehicle registration certificate and technical passport.
Special cases
Often a situation arises that the car is stolen with documents. Typically, motorists leave in the car an insurance policy and a certificate of registration of the car.
It is mandatory (by telephone) to inform about the theft of the insurance company. In most cases, insurance companies refuse to pay money to the owner due to lack of documents for the car. In this case, you must go to court. Judicial practice proves that in most situations, insurers have to return money to the victim.
What to do if thieves call the owner
Sometimes there are situations that outsiders call the victim on the phone and demand a material reward for the information, claiming that they know how to find a stolen car. And also, there are groups of attackers who steal a car and immediately call the owner, demanding a ransom. Usually they request about 30% of the cost of the car.
In this case, it is best to ask the robbers for time to collect money, and at this time to call the police and report the theft, as well as blackmail. It’s best not to mess with scammers without law enforcement, as you can lose not only a car, money, but also life.
Anti Theft Tips
In order not to waste time and money searching for stolen cars, as well as not to lose your vehicle, you must use the advice of specialists. 7 recommendations for car enthusiasts:
- It is necessary to equip the car with an alarm system and a mechanical anti-theft device.
- It is absolutely necessary to insure transport against theft.
- You must always keep with you all the detailed data about the car, such as: serial numbers of the body, engine, etc.
- You should leave your car in paid parking lots, in garages or in the parking lot, where video surveillance or security is carried out.
- Do not leave the car unattended unless doors or windows are closed.
- Do not give the car keys to friends, acquaintances and other people who can take advantage of the trust.
- Do not leave the car unattended if a strange and suspicious group of people who inspects the cars has been noticed.
Summarizing
All motorists must maximize their vehicle safety.In most cases, theft is due to the negligence of the owner. You should not store valuables or documents in the car. They are always best carried with you. Do not leave windows open, forget objects on the seat that could provoke a burglar to steal.
If, nevertheless, the car was stolen, each driver should know the number of traffic police. It should be understood that delay provides an additional chance for the robber to successfully steal the theft.