When your car is stolen, one of the first inquiries that arises is how long a stolen car investigation takes. Although this procedure is not the same for every investigation and can often be quite surprising, knowing the common steps in a typical investigation can assist you in better understanding what to hope and what to do next.
This could be the means of retrieving a stolen car, filing a police report, tracking the motor vehicle, and questioning witnesses or suspects. The duration of an investigation can depend upon the complexity of the case, the police resources available, and whether the public responds to police requests. As one example, in cities, where stolen car cases are more common, due to a higher volume of cases may take more time.
In this article, we’ll walk you through the method, how long each step usually gets, and, what kinds of things can speed up or delay the investigation. By the end, you’ll have a finer understanding of the timeline you can predict if your car is stolen.
Key Takeaways:
- The length of a stolen car investigation depends on various factors, including location, resources, and the complexity of the case.
- On average, it can take anywhere from a few days to several months to resolve.
- The involvement of specialized units or recovery technology may speed up the process.
- Patience is often necessary, as stolen car investigations require detailed investigation and coordination.
The Initial Steps: Reporting the Theft and Filing a Police Report
The first and most important step in a stolen car investigation is car theft reporting. In some areas, you can do this via an online portal, but more commonly it will require calling your local police department. After being notified, a police officer will usually stop by for a short interview that collects details about the car, where the theft occurred and any other information that may help them identify potential suspects or locate the car.
How long does it take?
- Filing the report typically does not take long at all — 30 minutes to an hour is the standard, depending on how much detail is retained and the intricacy of the case.
- However, the time it takes to start investigating the crime scene (if applicable) or tracking the vehicle can differ. In urban centers, officers might be stretched thin already, making an investigation take longer.
Once the police have been provided the required information, they enter the details of the vehicle into the national or regional databases (like the National Crime Information Center in the USA) to augment the possibility of recovery.
How Technology Affects Investigation Speed?
Many modern vehicles have GPS tracking or come equipped with tracking services such as OnStar or LoJack, which can greatly reduce the time it takes to be investigated.
How does that tracking impact an investigation?
- GPS Technology: If your vehicle has a GPS system, law enforcement will be able to track down the vehicle quickly. Some devices are designed to allow police to track the car in real-time, speeding recovery.
- OnStar or LoJack: These services can disable the car remotely or report its location, in both cases improving the likelihood of a speedy recovery.
They’re the ones that would have benefited most from the technology of wherever this technology is made, prepared, and injected. If your vehicle doesn’t have such systems, the investigation will be dependent on more traditional means, such as surveillance footage, eyewitness accounts, and manual searches.
How long does this step take?
- If a GPS tracker or similar system is available, a vehicle can be recovered in a matter of hours to a few days, depending on the location and police response time.
- Without that, the car could take weeks or months to find, as police will have to depend on tip-offs or other investigative methods.
How Local Departments Impact Investigation Times?
How fast your local police department responds to and investigates a stolen vehicle will depend heavily on its resources and workload. In high-crime or low-resource areas, it may take longer for an officer to start working on your case. However, if you live in a smaller town or an area that experiences fewer thefts, your case may get more timely attention.
Factors affecting police workload include:
- Crime rate: The more thefts your law enforcement has to handle, the more investigations they must manage.
- Available officers: The more officers available, the faster the investigation progresses.
- Specialized units: In some jurisdictions, Auto Theft Task Forces focus exclusively on recovering stolen vehicles. These units generally provide faster results.
How long does this take?
- Urban Areas: Investigations in urban areas may lead to longer times due to the volume of cases police departments have to handle.
- Rural or Less Populated Areas: In smaller departments not as taxed with cases, stolen car investigations may be done more quickly.
Recovering: What Happens When the Car Is Found?
If your stolen car is found, the focus turns to returning the car and investigating the circumstances surrounding the theft. However, recovery of a vehicle may not be on an immediate basis.
What’s next when a stolen car is found?
- The car is impounded: If the vehicle is discovered abandoned or bears evidence of a crime, it can be impounded during an investigation by the police.
- Fingerprints and DNA analysis: Forensic groups may search the car for evidence that can prompt an arrest. That can take time in an investigation.
- Condition of the vehicle: In some cases, stolen vehicles are stripped for parts, delaying or complicating the return process.
How long does this step take?
- Quick recovery: If they find the car in a few days and it’s got no problems, it can be back in a few days.
- Longer recovery: In cases when the car has been stripped or when there is forensic evidence to be examined, the investigation may take weeks to pull together.
How Does The Investigation Affect Your Claim?
Your car insurance provider might be working with law enforcement to evaluate the status of a stolen vehicle during the investigation. Your insurance company will start processing a claim while purportedly, the police will do their assessments (this depends on the situation and your policy).
How does the insurance claim impact the investigation?
- Filing a claim: You also must contact your insurance company immediately. This begins the process of figuring out whether your vehicle will be replaced or reimbursed.
- Waiting for confirmation of recovery: If the car is found, the payout from your insurance will likely be contingent upon the condition of the car. If the car is not found, the insurance payment could be faster.
How long does this step take?
It can take several weeks to months for claims to be processed in full, particularly if the vehicle isn’t quickly recovered or if disputes arise over the value of the vehicle.
How Witnesses and Tips Affect the Investigation?
Tips from the public or witnesses can be essential in recovering stolen cars. Police also ask that people report anything unusual, like seeing a car that matches the description of a stolen vehicle, or noticing any strange behavior.
How does the public impact the investigation?
- Eyewitness accounts can direct police to a suspect or to a location where the vehicle is being covered.
- When cars are parked unexpectedly or their drivers are engaged in illegal activities, anonymous tips can sometimes lead to a quicker recovery.
How long does this take?
Investigations can be shortened substantially when tips or witnesses produce key information, frequently resulting in the recovery of a vehicle within days.
Factors that Slow Down Investigations: Why Some Cases Take Longer
Although many stolen car investigations are over rapidly, various circumstances can hold up progress for quite some time.
Some factors include:
- No evidence: Lack of leads, surveillance footage, and forensic evidence can prolong the investigation.
- Geographical location: Stolen vehicles that cross state lines or international borders can complicate matters and add time to the investigation.
- Organized crime: If the car is being sold or shipped as part of a criminal organization, the investigation could cross multiple jurisdictions and be significantly more complicated.
Final Thoughts on Stolen Car Investigations
How long does it take to investigate a stolen car? The answer depends largely on variables such as officer workload, technical assistance, and the nature of the offense. Some investigations are bound up in a few days, while others try on for months.
If you ever have to deal with a stolen vehicle, it can be stressful, but learning some of the steps can help you better guide the process. Continue to be proactive about telling others, and don’t be afraid to ask for updates. If your car has been robbed, follow the progress of the investigation, and evaluate ways to prevent future theft.
Want to know more about how to protect your car, or what to do if you need to file an insurance claim? Read our other articles to get more tips!