When a car is reported stolen, the police typically respond to the scene and take a report from the owner of the car. This includes information about the vehicle, its make and model, its color, license plate number and other features. Photos of the car can sometimes be collected. The police will also record any eyewitness accounts of the incident, if available.
Once a report is filed, the police will list the car as stolen in local, state and federal databases. This will alert state trooper and other law enforcement when the vehicle is spotted.
The police will also investigate the scene of the theft and search for any evidence, such as broken glass, tire tracks or surveillance footage. The police may also contact nearby businesses, residences and surveillance cameras in an effort to locate the car. Additionally, police may reach out to junkyards or known car thieves or chop shops.
The police may also release the information of the stolen car to the media in an effort to recoup the vehicle and make an arrest. The police can also contact vehicle manufacturers and dealers to ask for any information about the car.
Finally, as a last resort, the police may put out an alert for the public to be on the lookout for the car, in the event that the vehicle shows up somewhere.