Security
Your vehicle has been stolen: what to do, step by step
The first hour matters most. What to do with a tracked vehicle, in what order, and what the police actually need from you.
Updated · 5 min read · Runic
Short answer
Call the police first and give them the crime reference, then share the live position from your tracking app — do not go after the vehicle yourself. Keep the app open so the trail keeps updating, and send the police a position update every time it moves.
Key takeaways
- Police first, recovery second. Never approach the vehicle.
- A live position plus a timestamped trail is what makes a recovery fast.
- Tamper and power-cut alerts buy you minutes that matter.
The first hour
Confirm the movement in the app and check the alert history so you can state when it started. Call the police, report the theft, and ask for the crime reference number. Tell them you have live GPS and can pass positions as they change.
- Report the theft and get the crime reference
- Share the live position and the last few trip points
- Notify your insurer with the same reference
- Keep the app open — the trail is your evidence
What the police need from you
A precise current position with a timestamp, the direction of travel, the vehicle registration and a description. A screenshot of the trail is more useful than a verbal description, because it shows where the vehicle has already been.
What reduces the risk next time
A hidden hardwired tracker with a backup battery keeps reporting after a power cut. Movement alerts while parked and a geofence around home or the depot turn a discovery hours later into a notification in seconds.
Frequently asked questions
- Should I go and get the vehicle myself?
- No. Vehicle theft is often organised and confronting the people involved is dangerous. Pass positions to the police.
- What if the thief finds the tracker?
- A hardwired unit is concealed and reports a tamper or power-cut event when disturbed, so you know immediately and the last position is preserved.
- Does the tracker still work if the battery is disconnected?
- A hardwired Runic 4G unit has an internal backup battery and keeps reporting for a period after external power is lost.