According to statistics, in 2025 the number of car thefts in Russia decreased compared with 2024. Nevertheless, the problem remains relevant: criminals continue to steal cars of a wide variety of brands, from Korean and Japanese to domestic and in-demand Chinese models, including Geely, Chery, and Lixiang.
Modern car thieves have learned to bypass both security systems and satellite beacons. Therefore, if a vehicle goes missing, it is important not to waste time and to act methodically.
Check: is it really theft?
A car missing from its parking spot does not always mean it has been stolen. Before contacting the police, it is worth ruling out simpler possibilities:
- the car may have been left in another place, for example near work or next to a leisure venue, from which the owner returned home by taxi or public transport
- the vehicle may have been taken by relatives or acquaintances who have access to the keys
- the car may have been towed to an impound lot
The last option is the most unpleasant, but it is easy to verify. It is enough to contact the police duty unit, provide the make, plate number, and parking location. If you know the contacts of local impound lots, it also makes sense to call them.
Residents of Moscow have additional ways to check:
- a call to the 24/7 number 3210 from a mobile phone
- an SMS to 7377 with the text "EV" and the license plate number
- online verification through services such as "Moscow Parking," as well as the portals mos.ru, parking.mos.ru, transport.mos.ru, and "Avtokod"
At the same time, it is important to keep in mind that information about towing appears online with a delay and may only be updated several hours later.
Contacting the police
If it becomes clear that the vehicle has indeed been stolen, the police must be called immediately. After the scene is inspected and the initial paperwork is completed, you should go to the police station with your passport and vehicle passport to file a report.
The report records:
- the car's external features
- installed anti-theft systems
- items that were inside the cabin
It is advisable to attach photographs of the vehicle to the report.
The police issue the following:
- a notice confirming acceptance of the report
- a certificate of theft and a resolution to initiate criminal proceedings
- a receipt for the keys and vehicle registration certificate, if they were handed over to the officers
After that, the process is not limited to waiting; there are actions the owner can take independently.
Inspecting nearby areas
Quite often, a stolen car is not taken far right away. It may be temporarily left nearby, within 2 to 4 kilometers of the theft location.
Therefore, it makes sense to inspect courtyards, vacant lots, and side streets in the area and pay attention to places with few people or poor visibility.
Sometimes the car is hidden in garages or enclosed premises, and then it is impossible to find it on your own. But if the vehicle has been left in an open area, there is still a chance of finding it.
If the vehicle is found, it must not be touched. The find must be reported to the police. Officers will document the seizure and send the car for examination, during which they will determine the method of theft and check the identification numbers. By law, up to 30 days are allotted for the examination.
The vehicle is returned either after a court decision or by an investigator's order before the proceedings are completed. If the injured party waives claims, the case may be closed on the grounds of reconciliation between the parties.
Using video recordings
Recordings from cameras and dashcams can significantly help in the search. It is worth contacting:
- owners of cars parked nearby, whose dashcams may have captured the moment of the theft
- organizations that maintain surveillance cameras; this may be the management company or municipal services
If access is available, you can request that recordings for the required period be preserved. In some cities, for example Moscow, only police officers have access to such data.
Video materials make it possible to clarify:
- the approximate time of the theft
- the direction in which the car drove away
Formally, collecting such data is part of the police's duties, but in practice the owner often does it faster.
Searching through social media
Communities in messengers and social networks often help in locating stolen cars. It is important to post a notice with a description and photographs.
When writing the post, it is better to focus on the car's distinguishing features and the specifics of the body or interior.
The license plate number does not have to be specified, since it is often changed.
However, the risk of fraud should be taken into account. A common scheme is demanding a reward for supposedly available information. In such cases, you should require proof: the exact location of the car and up-to-date photographs.
Without this, transferring money makes no sense. The question of a reward for assistance remains at the owner's discretion, but such offers are unacceptable with regard to police officers.
Contacting the insurance company
If you have comprehensive insurance, it is important to file a claim with the insurance company within the first two days, since theft is considered an insured event.
You will need a package of documents for processing:
- the owner's passport
- documents received from the police
- vehicle passport
- diagnostic card
- insurance policies and proof of payment
- bank details
If the documents were stolen together with the car, temporary ones must be issued; they are also included in the package.
Compensation is usually paid in about two months. At the same time, if the car is found before the funds are transferred, compensation is not paid, and if the money has already been paid, the recovered car becomes the property of the insurance company.
Real chances of recovery
There is a chance of finding a stolen car, especially with a prompt response. However, after 2 to 3 weeks the chances drop sharply: by that time, the car has usually either been resold or dismantled for parts.
Therefore, the key role is played by the speed of action and the consistency of steps, from checking whether the car was towed to interacting with the police, the insurer, and other sources of information.
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