Facing what to do when your car is stolen is a situation that no one wants to be in, and you don’t have to with the right preparation. The following is a list of preventative measures you can take, making it difficult to downright impossible for thieves to take your car:

• Keep copies of important documents in a safe place outside your car. This should include copies of your license, registration, and insurance, as well as receipts for any additional items you have installed in or on your car, such as rims or stereos. Remember, however, that you should always keep the original registration and insurance cards in the car, and only place copies outside.

• Take pictures of your car for insurance purposes. Along with saving receipts for any additions, pictures offer proof of value when you need to submit a claim. Pictures may also help the police identify your car if it has unique features.

• Using anti-theft measures, such as car alarms, lo jacks, and (simple as it may seem) always locking your car. Some anti-theft devices can also get you a lower rate on car insurance. Besides these things, park your car in well-lit areas or in a garage if possible.

• Many police agencies recommend engraving the vehicle identification number that is somewhere hidden on your car. This way, your car can be identified even if it has been dramatically altered. (For more information on VINs, click here.)

However, no matter how many preventative measures you take, your car may still be stolen.  First and foremost, call the police immediately. The faster the police have a description of your car, the higher the chance that they can find it before it is damaged.  Give the police the best description of your car possible, as well as the area from which it was stolen.  Remember, you should have your license plate number memorized; otherwise, you will not know one of the key identifying markers for your car. After calling the police, do the following:

• Complete any instructions the police officers give you.  This may include delivering your insurance and registration copies, as well as pictures of your vehicle, receipts, and serial numbers for anything you have added to the car.

• Contact your insurance agency.  They can begin processing the claim immediately and help you get a rental car.

• Inform the police immediately if you were wrong about your car being stolen.  If, luckily, there was a mix-up, it is imperative that you call the police.  Otherwise, whoever is driving the car may be pulled over at gunpoint.

• If you find your car after it is stolen, be very cautious.  Police departments advise against approaching the car.  The thief may be nearby, and you could also damage evidence.  Call the police immediately and give them the location of your car.

Although no one should have to go through the trauma of having a car stolen, you can protect yourself by following these few, simple steps. And remember, your insurance agency is there for this exact reason; let them help you get back into a car and on with your life.