The process to find a stolen car is often a lengthy and exhausting one. Sadly, it’s not an uncommon one.
The State of Global Safety and Security survey found that 39% of respondents had experienced vehicle theft, making it the fourth most reported type of crime.
Without adequate protection, the risk of car theft is significantly higher.
Read on to learn how to find a stolen car in 5 different ways, as well as what you should do if you’ve just discovered your car is stolen.
Table of Contents
Is There a Way to Track a Stolen Car?
There are 5 different ways to find a stolen car:
- Check its VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) maintenance log.
- Report the license plate to the police.
- Find the location using a pre-installed Bluetooth tracking system.
- Locate the car using a pre-installed GPS tracker.
- Use Find My iPhone, AirTags, or similar services if a device was left inside the vehicle.
1. Locate a Stolen Car By VIN
If a thief has maintenance work or repairs done legitimately on a stolen car, they will have to provide the vehicle’s VIN. Obtain the car’s VIN history to reveal activity relating to the thief, and pass this information on to the police.
2. Find a Stolen Car By License Plate Number
When a car is reported as stolen, the police will request the vehicle’s make, model, and license plate number. It’s flagged to local patrol cars and surveillance cameras for them to spot if it passes by.
3. Track a Stolen Car With Bluetooth
If a car connects to a phone via Bluetooth, try connecting to the car to see if it is in range. If it doesn’t connect, Bluetooth may be switched off, or the car is not in range.
Bluetooth trackers are available for cars, but they aren’t reliable since Bluetooth has a very short range. A Bluetooth connection is also easily disabled by thieves when the vehicle is stolen.
4. Locate a Stolen Car With a GPS Tracker
Modern cars have built-in GPS tracking connected to a satellite. Paired with a smart device, a car’s whereabouts is trackable via the corresponding app.
Cars without pre-installed GPS trackers can have one fitted. Aftermarket GPS trackers are fitted to the underside of the vehicle or hidden in the trunk. Like built-in GPS trackers, they connect to an app.
5. Track a Stolen Car With an AirTag
AirTags are not designed to locate a stolen car, and should only be used to find keys, AirPods, bags, and other valuables. They can indicate the location of a stolen car, however, if the item it is connected to is left inside the vehicle at the time of the theft.
Likewise, if you left a phone in the car, AlfredCircle and services like Find My iPhone will locate it.
An AirTag’s direct Bluetooth range is short. Apple doesn’t publish a figure, and real-world tests usually put it at a few dozen meters at most. AirTags are also not designed to track fast-moving objects, like cars, so the location may be unreliable. It takes time for the location to update itself on a mobile device.
Car Just Stolen? 3 Things To Do Now
1. Confirm the vehicle was stolen
When a car goes missing, it’s easy to assume that it was stolen. But it could be taken out by a family member with access to the keys, or even towed if it’s blocking a driveway or other private space.
Call anyone who might have access to the car to make sure it hasn’t simply been borrowed.
2. Check for tracking devices
Look for built-in or externally installed trackers. Check ‘Find My iPhone’ or similar services on another device or a desktop computer if a phone was left in the vehicle.
AlfredCircle, the dedicated location tracking app from the AlfredCamera team, can also be used this way. So long as it’s enabled, AlfredCircle shares the exact location of the device, and thus the vehicle it’s in.
3. Check cameras
Many car parks have attendants that monitor CCTV who will be able to confirm a stolen car. In most places, you have the right to request CCTV footage of yourself recorded in public.
It’s also wise to ask shop owners and other local businesses with surveillance cameras to see the footage if the car was parked nearby. Be aware that they have the right to refuse your request.
Naturally, the police can request CCTV footage without delay.
If the car was stolen from your home, check your security cameras (namely garage and porch cameras), whether that’s an outdoor IP camera or a smartphone pointed out the window of your home.
Credit: Kevinz Gaming. “This is a review video for the AlfredCam made by the AlfredCamera company. I’m using it as a dash cam, but it’s intended to be an indoor camera. Testing it out for the first time! Hands-on review.”
Car Theft: Your Questions Answered
We asked what you wanted to know most about all things car theft and car security. Below, we address the most common concerns about car theft.
1. How do thieves track cars?
Thieves track cars informally by noting the number plate. Cosmetic quirks also make a vehicle stick out, but they’re less likely to be targeted if damaged.
GPS trackers are a more sophisticated way to track a car, so check the entirety of the interior and exterior, including under the vehicle and under the hood, if suspicious.
2. Do car thieves put trackers on cars?
It’s unlikely that a thief puts a tracker on a car unless the vehicle is particularly expensive or desirable. Reports suggest cheap tracking devices, like Apple AirTags, are used to monitor vehicles.
3. Which cars do thieves track most?
Expensive and/or desirable cars are the only vehicles likely to be tracked by car thieves. This includes vintage cars as well as new luxury vehicles, like cars from Land Rover and Mercedes-Benz. Tracking them makes them easier to ship overseas.
The most commonly stolen vehicles, however, are usually of humbler stock. Hyundai and Kia models now top the list in the US, followed by full-size pickups like the Chevrolet Silverado and Ford F-150, and family cars from Honda.
4. What do car thieves usually take?
Rather than taking the whole vehicle, car thieves often steal parts from new car models. The precious metals in the parts make them valuable, and parts are easier to steal in broad daylight.
Opportunists steal vehicles that are easy to take, so the most commonly stolen vehicles are generally pretty ordinary: family cars from Hyundai, Kia and Honda.
For more seasoned car thieves, luxury SUVs from brands like Land Rover are prime targets.
5. What do thieves do with stolen cars?
Opportunist thieves steal cars for entertainment before dumping them or selling them illegally for quick cash.
Cars stolen for reselling internationally are stolen by more experienced thieves. They target specific models and may place a tracker to monitor the location, particularly if it’s to be shipped overseas.
Stolen cars for resale are modified before resale, making it difficult to trace.
6. How fast can a stolen car be found?
Joyrides are usually resolved quickly, as are amateur thefts or thefts committed under the influence of drugs or alcohol. However, some cars are never found.
Generally, if a stolen car is not found within 30 days of being reported, it’s unlikely to be found at all. Thieves will often change license plates illegally before selling the car on, making it impossible to trace.
Conclusion
Car theft is no one’s idea of a good time. It’s incredibly distressing.
Even though car theft has seen a sharp upturn recently, the good news is that car thefts are far more likely to end in a recovery than any other type of property theft in the US, with more than half of all stolen cars recovered by police in 2020.
Logical measures like cameras, alarms, and up to date number plates dramatically decrease the likelihood of permanent loss of property, but if you do find yourself the victim of a car theft, learn how to report it to the police immediately.
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