Real Claims: My car was broken into | PEMCO

He writes:

I don't think most people who drive old cars worry about them getting broken into. I didn't until one night when I got off work and found the door messed up on my 1997 Ford Ranger and my backpack dumped out on the seat. Someone had broken in and stolen around $5 in change. The real problem was, they caused about $600 damage doing it.

I was mad, but I learned a few things:

• Don't think "it won't happen to me." It didn't matter that I was in a safe neighborhood. It happened anyway, unfortunately.
• Clean out your car. Besides spare change on the console and the backpack, I had coats and some clutter in the truck. I'm sure they thought they'd find something worth stealing by rifling through the stuff.
• Pick your parking spot carefully. I was at the back of the parking lot next to some bushes. Nobody saw anything. Next time, I will try to park in an area that's well lit or closer to a building entrance.
• Know that it will cost you. Even though I had the right kind of insurance coverage (comprehensive) to pay to fix the vandalized door, it wouldn't have been worth filing an insurance claim after paying the deductible.
• Make a police report. I didn't because I figured it wouldn't do any good. I felt guilty later, thinking I should have said something so the police could keep an eye on the area.

Unfortunately, this is a pretty common story, although most thieves get away with more, like laptops, wallets, or expensive bags and equipment. And the driver was lucky in another way. The thief didn't take his garage door opener and address from papers in the glove compartment, which would allow the thieves to break into his home while he was at work.

Remember, this time of year, car break-ins are even more common since there are less daylight hours. Even at 5 p.m., it's mostly dark outside. Keep this in mind when choosing your parking spot when you arrive at work each day. Try to park in an area that will be well-lit once it's dark.

To his advice, we'd add these prowl-prevention tips.

Tips to prevent car break-ins

• Lock up, every time. In about half of car thefts, drivers forgot to lock a door or fully close a window. That percentage may be even higher for prowls.
• Park inside your locked garage whenever possible.
• When parking in a public place (like your place of work, a shopping center, etc.), try to park in an area that's well-lit and gets a decent amount of foot traffic. Car prowlers are less likely to attempt to break into your car if they could be easily seen.
• When shopping, never drop off bags at the car and return to the mall. A thief could be watching.
• Carry your vehicle registration and insurance ID with you. Many people mistakenly believe they must keep their registrations and insurance ID in the car at all times (some even keep them in a pocket on the visor). However, under both Oregon and Washington law, you simply need to have them with you in case of an accident or if a law enforcement officer requests them. By safeguarding them the same as your driver's license, you can prevent both home burglars and identity thieves looking to cash in further after a car prowl.
• Report the crime to the police. If you see the break-in happening, call 9-1-1 from a safe location. Don't risk your safety trying to stop the thief yourself. Otherwise, use the non-emergency number or, depending on your city, you may be able to file a report online. Besides giving you a chance to get your property back, reporting helps local law enforcement maintain accurate crime statistics and can alert them to trends. Keep a copy of your report or at least get the number so you can include it if you file an insurance claim.
• Photograph any damage and make a list of items stolen. If you have a home inventory with details of your missing items, it may help the police recover your property. It also will help you file a claim under your renter or homeowners insurance. (That's what covers items stolen from a car, not your car insurance.)

Being the target of a crime is stressful and unsettling. We're here to help. You can worry less knowing you can report a claim to PEMCO 24 hours a day, and you can review your coverage and deductibles online anytime using your pemco.com account.

If my car is broken into, what will my insurance cover?

For belongings stolen out of your car, your homeowners or renter policy would cover it under your personal property protection. That would take care of things like laptops, cell phones, shopping bags, sunglasses, sports equipment, and apparel (all common targets). 

Claims are subject to policy deductibles (that’s the amount you agree to cover out of pocket on a claim before insurance coverage kicks in). If a single claim involves coverage from two PEMCO policies – in the case of a car break-in, your auto policy for damage to your car, and your home or renter policy for stolen personal property – PEMCO would waive the lower of the two deductibles.  

If you find the cost of repairing damage or replacing the stolen items isn’t much more than your deductible, you may decide it’s not worth it to file a claim. Claims (even if they’re not your fault) combined with future tickets or accidents could impact your premium. It also would disqualify you for certain discounts, like PEMCO’s Home and Renter Claim-Free Discount. If in doubt, ask your PEMCO representative when you contact us.  

As always, you're entitled to a free policy review at any time. One of our licensed agents can help review your coverages and talk to you about your unique insurance needs. You can reach us at 1-800-467-3626.

Stay safe this new year!