Tips for Recovering Lost or Stolen Items

Katie McEntire

Staff Writer, Safety & Security

It's easy to panic if you've lost something (or worse, it's stolen from you lot). The good news is information technology's possible to recover stolen items. You but need to know how to start searching.

Learn what to do when you lose your valuables, how to recover them, and how to foreclose loss in the first identify.

Preventing holding offense and loss

Follow these pointers to forestall your valuables from getting lost or stolen:

  • Keep records. Go on important information on manus like serial numbers and vehicle identification numbers. These records brand the search for stolen appurtenances easier.
  • Use digital trackers. Whether it'due south an app or a tracking device, placing digital beacons on your valuables can help you lot recover them if they are lost or stolen.
  • Lock information technology. While locks aren't always foolproof, they at least discourage theft, especially in public places.
  • Hide it.Snoops can't steal what they can't come across. When possible, hibernate your valuables so others can't swipe them.

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How to find your lost or stolen items

  • Missing cards and documents

woman looking through purse

Missing phone

When your phone goes missing, y'all might feel lost too.

According to the PreyProject's 2018 report, 69.12% of those surveyed misplaced their phone while the remaining xxx.88% had their phones stolen over the grade of the year.ane The same report lists the home, on the street, at work, or on public transit as mutual places where the over 800 people surveyed lost their phones.

What to do next

Your smartphone may be lost, merely it's non forgotten. Follow these tips to effort and track it down:

  • Use a locator app. Android and iPhones both have born apps to assistance you locate your phone.
  • Send a text. If you left your phone in a public place, send a text bulletin to your phone with the return information. If your texts are prepare to appear on your home screen, it makes it easy for the restaurant, store, or Practiced Samaritan to render it.
  • Take precautions. If your telephone'due south withal missing, take some preventative measures. Start by backing upwards your phone, then wiping it remotely to prevent thieves from stealing more. You should likewise change your passwords to apps and accounts you use oftentimes.
  • Inform your carrier. Next, contact your service provider. They can disable your service, help trace your phone, or get you a replacement phone.
  • Contact your police department. Police reports tin can help y'all fight whatsoever fraudulent charges that come up up afterwards your phone goes missing. If your phone is insured, you might need a law study to procedure your claim.

Missing laptop or tablet

Whether information technology's in a coffee shop, on public transit, or in your ain domicile, losing your laptop can be a nightmare. These are a few ways to increase your chance of recovering your laptop.

What to do side by side

Don't surrender your lost laptop—endeavor these tips to locate information technology and keep information technology rubber until it turns up:

  • Consider your environs. If your laptop gets swiped in a public infinite, in that location may exist surveillance footage of the act. Ask anyone sitting nearby if they saw something and talk to employees about any footage they might have.
  • Try a locator app. The Find My Device (Android) and Find My (Apple) apps piece of work with laptops and tablets too. Try locating your device with one of these.
  • File a police report. Call constabulary enforcement. Similar with any valuable device, a police report can help you out downwards the road.
  • Wipe your information. Some software allows you to wipe all your data remotely. If this isn't an option, you can still utilise services like iTunes and Google to log out of your accounts and deauthorize all devices.
  • Contact your insurance. If someone steals your device from your home or car, your insurance might embrace information technology. Telephone call your agent to find out.
  • Start looking. Outset with local pawn shops and online listings on sites like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, offerUp, and eBay. If you find your device, don't buy it or permit the seller know it's yours. Instead, inquire if they tin can hold the particular for you, and contact the police section so the regime can recover your stolen items.

Missing package

Package theft isn't just frustrating—it feels like a violation of privacy. Fortunately, there are ways to fight back.

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What to exercise next

There are plenty of tactics you can use to forestall theft and recover stolen packages. Here are a few y'all can try to recover your stolen package.

  • Check again. Check every entrance of your dwelling and spots the delivery driver could have left it, like the back porch, the hedges, the garage, or between the screen door and front door.
  • Contact the commitment company. Have your tracking number and lodge details at the fix. Then, inquire virtually the company policy on stolen packages. If the theft was due to their mistake, they might be able to help you.
  • Contact the retailer. Get in bear on with customer service and accept your order and tracking number ready. The customer service rep can tell you lot the store or visitor policy on stolen items.
  • File a written report. Report your missing packet to the police and the Postal Inspection Service. The more than agencies helping you track downward your stolen package, the better.

Missing vehicle

Sometimes a lost motorcar has been stolen, but more often, yous've only forgotten where you parked. Before reporting your vehicle as stolen, take these steps to locate your missing vehicle.

What to do side by side

Just because you can't find your motorcar doesn't hateful it's gone for adept. Cheque out these tips to locate your ride.

  • Outset with the obvious.walk the expanse where you last parked your automobile. If you take a remote, click the emergency button to locate your car.
  • Contact the parking lot company. If y'all've scoured the area and still can't find your auto, don't assume it's stolen just still. The parking lot company or area tow company may have taken it. Telephone call the owner of the parking lot or the tow company they utilize and ask near your motorcar.

    If your machine was stolen out of a garage, in that location may be parking attendants who saw what happened or know where to find footage.

  • Telephone call the law. If your auto wasn't towed, information technology might have been stolen. It helps to know your vehicle identification number (VIN), license plate number, and where you saw it last.
  • Inform your insurance company. All those monthly premiums are finally going to pay off. If you have the proper coverage, your insurance visitor should compensate you lot for the loss of your vehicle.
  • Search for information technology online. Online resources like Stolen 911 and Stolen-Belongings store internet databases of theft reports. Both sites scour the net for listings featuring items just similar yours.

You might likewise find leads by searching for car parts or at your local junk yard. Many stolen vehicles get dissected and sold for parts. Automated systems can assistance you identify parts from your stolen car—simply don't contact the seller straight. Study your findings to the police and let them take it from in that location.

Missing keys

Keys can prove upwardly in the weirdest places. If you lot've lost your business firm or auto keys, use these tricks to recover them.

What to practise next

You aren't getting far without your keys. Accept a breath and endeavour these tips to detect them.

  • Expect in strange places. Keys seem to cease up in locations that defy logic. After you've exhausted the usual suspects like your purse or pockets, start checking out the weird places like burrow cushions and laundry piles.
  • Call for backup. If you've given spare keys to loved ones, now's the fourth dimension to get help. If your missing primal is for your automobile, the dealer might be able to assistance with a replacement.
  • Change the locks. Sadly, if your keys are lost or stolen, you'll need to alter your locks. The process tin eat up some time and money, merely it keeps your habitation and loved ones condom.

Utilize the tips hither to go along ameliorate track of your keys, simply if you do finish up locked out of your automobile or dwelling, utilise our step-past-footstep guide to get back inside.

Nobody wants to lose their valuables or fall victim to theft, but if it happens to you, you lot aren't powerless. Recall to have precautions by watching your items, keeping your digital information safety, and having a plan in heed before the theft happens.

Missing cards and documents

Missing anything from your wallet (or your entire wallet) can be nervus-wracking. Thankfully, there are ways to replace or renew of import items like driver's licenses, credit cards, and even social security cards.

Driver's license or regime issued ID

Like whatsoever important missing detail, don't panic. Losing your driver's license or ID can be scary, but it could simply be misplaced or left behind somewhere.

  • Where did you lot use it final.Information technology'southward a common story any bartender could tell y'all. A night out leads to someone leaving the bar without their driver'south license or credit carte du jour.
    Retrace your steps and think of the last time your commuter's license left your wallet. And then think of the last time your wallet left your handbag or pocket.
  • If you lot suspect theft, report it. Some states crave a police study if your license goes missing. And then if your search turns upwards fruitless, exist sure to report it before moving forward.
  • Cheque your local DMV for details.The rules vary from country to state on how to handle lost or stolen IDs. Check your country'due south DMV website or call your local office to become details. You'll likely have to go through a few steps to renew your license.

Credit card

Missing credit cards can be the thing of adulthood nightmares. Simply like the missing driver'south license, it'south of import not to panic. Consider what you lot used your carte du jour for last and call the store or shop to see if they however have it.

  • Bank check your statement.Most banks and credit cards let you to check your charges online. Log into your banking concern account to see where you (or someone else) used it last. If the charges look unfamiliar, cancel your menu immediately.
  • Contact your banking concern.Credit and debit cards become missing all the fourth dimension. Thankfully, banks are prepared. Simply contact your bank and ask them to replace the card and you'll have a new one with a new number on the way.

Social Security carte du jour

You may not use your Social Security card oft, but when you demand it, it'south ordinarily for something important. If you've lost your Social Security card, you tin can request a replacement through the Social Security office online.

Unfortunately, some states don't allow a replacement card asking online. In these states, you'll need to utilize through the mail:

  • Minnesota
  • New Hampshire
  • Nevada
  • Oklahoma
  • West Virginia

When searching for data near Social Security or other government IDs, be sure to use trusted sources such equally government websites. Don't be fooled by scammers posing every bit government agents who could swipe your Social Security Number.

Final word

Accidents happen and nosotros're all prone to losing valuables from time to time. From packages and car keys to of import documents, a little extra mindfulness tin go a long style when it comes to tracking your things (and preventing theft).

FAQ

It depends on the circumstances effectually your lost detail. If the law detect your missing auto, laptop, or other valuables, they may keep it every bit evidence against the thief, or y'all could get it back. Information technology depends on how you reported it stolen and who found information technology.

Burglars and thieves usually steal valuables to turn a profit. Pawn shops are the most common places to recover stolen items. Simply online listing sites like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace are increasingly pop places to sell stolen goods.

Many thieves are smart enough to know not to sell in the area they stole items from. Employ a resources like Stolen 911 to check national listings for your stolen items.

Aye, merely only if you know that the goods are stolen. Possession of stolen goods is considered a misdemeanor or felony depending on the items and circumstances involved.2

Again, it depends on the circumstances effectually the theft. If your stolen item was used to commit another law-breaking, it might be held as evidence. For things like bikes, laptops, or smartphones, file a constabulary study, and police force enforcement will notify you if they notice the item.

Unfortunately, recovering your stolen items is upward to you lot. While filing a police report tin can aid, it won't guarantee the safe render of your valuables. Thankfully, sources like Stolen-Property connect yous to online listings to help make your search easier.

Start by taking pictures of any impairment to your car and the contents inside. Share a list of missing items with the constabulary for the police study.

Adjacent, contact your insurance provider. Depending on your policy, they might exist able to help with any damage. But unfortunately, there aren't many policies that embrace the contents of your car.

Sadly, simply about a quarter of stolen items are recovered.3 That said, yous should all the same file a constabulary report. These reports can help get your property replaced, and they also ensure that the constabulary tin contact y'all if they find your items.

Related manufactures on SafeWise

Sources

  1. PreyProject, "Mobile Theft and Loss Report," Accessed January 11, 2022.
  2. Ki Akhbari, LegalMatch.com, "Receiving Stolen Belongings," April 2018. Accessed Jan eleven, 2022.
  3. FBI: 2018 Crime in the USA, "Property Stolen and Recovered," Accessed January eleven, 2022.

Katie McEntire

Written by

Katie McEntire

As a renter, pet-owner, and woman living lonely, Katie McEntire takes safe seriously. She'due south tested devices like pet cameras, home security systems, and GPS trackers in her ain home and devices in the proper noun of prophylactic. In addition to testing, writing, and reviewing for SafeWise, she as well makes videos for the site'southward YouTube channel. She's been featured on publications like TechGuySmartBuy, Forbes, Good for you Moms, and Digital Care. Katie has a Bachelor's degree in Technical Writing from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee. She'due south held previous writing positions at Overstock.com and Acme Ten Reviews.

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