Lost or Stolen Property

What to do first

All cases of loss or theft should be reported to the police as soon as possible, even if there seems little likelihood that the thieves will be arrested or valuables recovered. A police report is necessary if you will be filing an insurance claim to replace the missing items.

The report must be made in person, preferably to the police station in the area where the loss or theft occurred. Ask for the police reference number, and be sure that you have reported the disappearance of the property accurately as either lost or stolen.

We also suggest that you leave a record of your name, permanent address, and a brief description of the lost/stolen items at the Embassy. Money, jewelry, and other valuables are rarely recovered, but identity cards, photos, and empty wallets are occasionally turned in. We do our best to return them to their owners.

WARNING

Many visitors to London have their pockets picked, purses snatched, or valuables stolen by thieves who frequent rail and underground stations, major shopping streets, restaurants, department stores, and other crowded areas. Thousands of Americans visit the Embassy each year to replace stolen passports. For information on how to reduce your risk, see our page on Precautions Against Theft.

Reporting/Replacing Lost or Stolen Traveler's Checks

American Express: 0800-521-313 (24-hour service)

Citibank: 0800-005-500

Thomas Cook: 0800-622-101 (24-hour service)

Visa: 020-7937-8091 (24-hour service)

MasterCard: 0800-964-767

Reporting Lost/Stolen Credit Cards

American Express: 012-7369-6933

Diners Club: 0800-460-800

MasterCard: 0800-964-767

Visa: 0800-895-082

Airline Policies on Lost or Stolen Tickets

In general, most airlines will replace lost or stolen paper tickets on the return leg of a round trip. However, the passenger will need to appear in person at the ticket desk at the airport to fill out a form. Most airlines charge a fee of at least $100 to replace a paper ticket.

American Airlines

020-7365-0777

www.aa.com