If I lose my papers/passport in the US, what police station should I report it to?
If I lose my ID papers, credit cards or passport in the US, in order to report the loss, do I have to go to a specific type of police station (city, transit, state police), or could I just go to any of them, the closest police station when I notice I lost them?
EDIT : It looks like it all depends on the precise area I lost my papers. So if I notice the loss after a while - and as I lost them, I don't know where they are - how could I determine the precise area I lost them? Say I visit city A on day 1, city B on day 2, I notice on day 2 I lost them, maybe in city A, do I have to go back to city A?
As @Relaxed said, the French consulate requires a police report as a proof of loss/robbery. It sounds also natural - in France, at least - that police reports of loss/robbery are the standard proof to show to insurances for claims.
Best Answer
The United States has a very complicated law enforcement system, it's often difficult to tell the difference between police and private security. For example, New York City transit police are real police. The ones minding the trains in many smaller cities are not, yet they have uniforms, radios, guns etc.
However, any law enforcement officer will know who is responsible for what in their area. If you do lose your papers just call the number on any police car you see driving by and ask. If he's stopped, walk up to the car and ask - they might take your report on the spot. You can also call 9-1-1 and ask for the non-emergency phone number (don't start on the story, just ask for the regular police phone number).
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What is police report for lost passport?
What do I do if I lose my passport? A: Loss of passport should be immediately reported to the nearest Police Station and to the Passport Office or Indian Mission, if abroad. If required, you can apply for "Re-issue" of passport.What happens if you lose passport in USA?
Call us toll-free at 1-877-487-2778 (TTY 1-888-874-7793). If you want to apply for a new passport, you'll have to also fill out the paper Form DS-64 to turn in with your application.What do you do when you lose your passport?
To report your passport is lost or has been stolen, you have three options:Can I return to us if I lost my passport?
You will have to replace the passport before returning to the United States. Contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for assistance. Contact information for U.S. embassies and consulates is also available in our country information pages.Passport Police Verification Adverse Fail Problem Solution How to apply for Passport Re verification
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Answer 2
It depends a bit on where you are, as there are a number of policing units from state police to country sheriffs to city police to university police to transit police. But ultimately, they can all file a report on the lost documents for you to present to your embassy.
On a general basis, if you don't know exactly where you lost them, then you would go to the city / metropolitan police for that town. They have the broadest jurisdiction and are the most likely place that lost documents would be turned in. And more specialized police (transit police, university police, etc) would have access to their database, should the lost documents be turned in to their office.
If you are certain you lost it on a train/bus or on a campus, then you could report the loss to those specific police. But otherwise use the main police force for the city.
If by chance you think you left it behind at a roadside truck stop or some other such place in rural areas, then either the local county sheriff (if you know approximately where) or the state police if you have been traveling and could have left it multiple places.
Ultimately notifying your embassy is the primary first step.
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