My car was broken into on a recent Sunday in broad daylight. My much-loved Martin guitar was stolen along with my purse (sans wallet, which was thankfully with me). To read the details of the story and it’s aftermath, visit my personal blog. To study up on what to do if this financial hardship befalls you, read on.

1. Call the police. Don’t touch it. Let the report be taken exactlybreakin.jpg how you found the scene. If glass has spilled out onto a street, driveway or parking lots, get some help in sweeping up just the glass that could effect living creatures or another car.

2. If glass is broken into the car, don’t bother trying to sweep it out. I cut myself twice through gloves trying to do this then realized the mobile glass installer had a shop-vac and that it was part of his job.

3.Call your car insurance and file a report immediately even if you are not sure there has been damage to the vehicle itself. Mycar insurance, American Commerce, covered the only damage which was one broken window and the repair van came out the next morning. (Make sure your car insurance covers glass damage due to vandalism and that they partner with drive-out glass.) They are supposedly going to come up with $250 for things that were stolen, but only if I can produce receipts. This reminds me to tell you to keep receipts for a while for new purchases and longer for major items, but not in your wallet or in your car.

4. If parked near your house, your home-owner’s insurance or renter’s insurance will usually pay for all or most of what was stolen and possibly some of the car damage. Call them right away and leave a message detailing the incident. I have been touring and house-sitting and mostly not living in the house where my car was broken into. I had just cancelled my renter’s insurance there to save money, even though I still visit and store things there. Bad move. Renter’s insurance is always inexpensive and definitely worth it.

5. Talk to all of the surrounding shop owners/ pedestrians/neighbors about what they may have seen.

6. Put on some heavy gloves and visit the surrounding trash cans and dumpsters looking for any items dear to you which the thief may have discarded if he/she was just looking for cash. This is where my neighbor found my beloved magenta purse and all of it’s contents along with my family photo album.

7. Check Craigslist at least daily under the musical instrument section. Also check EBAY daily by choosing the sort: recently added items option.
Special Note for Musicians or Electronics Buffs:

If your instruments and/or equipment is stolen:

1. Have all of your serial numbers written down in several places, including back home if you are on tour. The only place mine was written in was in the day planner which was stolen in my purse at the same time. From here you can put a claim on Music Trader or Stolen Guitars.

2. Don’t be stupid like me and think that you can leave equipment in plain view even for a few minutes. Always put everything in the trunk from now on.

3. Be immediate and thorough about calling music stores and pawn shops. Give them your item descriptions, serial numbers, identifying flaws and include the police case number, officer’s name and your cell number.