Car broken into, should I call the cops?

Enos316

So driving into work this morning I notice that all the change in my change holder is gone. I look inside my center console and see that everything in there is gone as well, including my GPS and a bluetooth headset and maybe some CDs.

Must have left a door unlocked or something, and it most likely happened yesterday as far as I can tell. No damage to the car or windows.

Is it worth calling the cops? Or would something like this do nothing but raise my car insurance? The GPS was old and on its last legs anyway, I wouldn't value it at more than $75 or so.

I live in Connecticut if that makes a difference.

Thanks.

Mojo_Jojo

Just phone the non-emergency number and explain that you most likely left the door open. It's still theft.

ApexMirage

Not that I'm saying don't do it, but what would that accomplish anyway?

cooljammer00

What is the non-emergency police number? Is there a standard, or do we have to call our local precinct?

illig

call your local non-emergency number (just check the yellow pages for your town)... since you drove the car after the theft they most likely will not come out to take evidence (i.e. fingerprints are wiped away by now), but will ask you to report any identifying information (serial numbers of your equipment, etc.) that you may have... this is just in case the stuff is recovered

i had that happen to me, a radio was stolen when i left my window down overnight by accident... i was asked to go to the station, and fill out a short form

it's very unlikely that you'll get your stuff back, but there's a small chance that someone somewhere down the line will be caught with the stolen goods, and you can fuck them by confirming that they were stolen... it'll give you that warm and tingly feeling inside to know that another Dbag gets to spend a few more days in jail

cooljammer00

He was probably gonna sell it for crack!

FF

They'll come out, fill out a report and give you a card with the report number on it in case you discover anything else missing. Annnd, that's about it.

At least, that's what they did yesterday when I came back from shopping and found my window smashed out.

Post Blue

FF wrote: »

They'll come out, fill out a report and give you a card with the report number on it in case you discover anything else missing. Annnd, that's about it.

At least, that's what they did yesterday when I came back from shopping and found my window smashed out.

Exactly right. They might also recommend you go down to a local pawn shop and see about identifying any of your stuff. It's up to you whether you feel like reporting it to your insurance, but if you have a decent provider, they'll basically bring a blank check out to your car while you start pointing at things and assigning values, and then they cut you a check. You can be as hoest or dishonest as you care to, and you can spend the money on whatever the hell you want, but filing claim can negatively impact your premium.

Djeet

Report it. Even if nothing valuable was stolen or if there's little chance of recovery. Police reports feedback info to the cops so they know if there's a hotspot at which they need to beef up patrol. They also provide fodder when safety initiatives are brought up (such as street lighting).

ceres

FF wrote: »

They'll come out, fill out a report and give you a card with the report number on it in case you discover anything else missing. Annnd, that's about it.

At least, that's what they did yesterday when I came back from shopping and found my window smashed out.

It was crazy downstairs lady.

MushroomStick

cooljammer00 wrote: »

What is the non-emergency police number? Is there a standard, or do we have to call our local precinct?

I guess mileage may vary... But around where I live, if you call the non-emergency number to report something, they just transfer you to 911. Kinda ticked me off the first time after I'd just wasted 20 minutes looking for the non-emergency number.

FyreWulff

Djeet wrote: »

Report it. Even if nothing valuable was stolen or if there's little chance of recovery. Police reports feedback info to the cops so they know if there's a hotspot at which they need to beef up patrol. They also provide fodder when safety initiatives are brought up (such as street lighting).

This. More people need to file police reports because it lets the police justify adding patrols to the area. You can't get money for more cars/patrols/police for an area you 'know' is bad, the government needs to see actual evidence. Police reports are this evidence.

FF

ceres wrote: »

FF wrote: »

They'll come out, fill out a report and give you a card with the report number on it in case you discover anything else missing. Annnd, that's about it.

At least, that's what they did yesterday when I came back from shopping and found my window smashed out.

It was crazy downstairs lady.

I wish

Enos316

Djeet wrote: »

Report it. Even if nothing valuable was stolen or if there's little chance of recovery. Police reports feedback info to the cops so they know if there's a hotspot at which they need to beef up patrol. They also provide fodder when safety initiatives are brought up (such as street lighting).

Thats a good point, and along the lines of what I was thinking. I'm pretty sure they can't get it back, but it would at least alert them to a problem area.

I'll probably call the non-emergency number after work to report it. Thanks for the info all.

Unknown

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CZroe

Most insurance companies will fault you if you didn't lock the door. Heck, if it was slim-jim'd without any sign of forced entry, they still usually blame you and refuse to cover it or raise your rates. Now that I've raised the possibility, do you think you may have been jim'd?

Post Blue

mcdermott wrote: »

Yep, definitely go ahead and file a report. Doesn't take that long. Whether to file an insurance claim is up to you, but it sounds like the value of the stolen items may not even meet your deductible.

How convenient.