Lost something in Santa Barbara? Report it once and let us handle the rest.
Submit one report to ReportLost, and we connect you with Santa Barbara Police, Harbor Patrol, the airport, transit, and UCSB, while our system continuously scans local social channels, marketplaces, and community networks for matches over the coming months.
What did you lose?
If there isn’t an adequate suggestion, select “Other – My item isn’t listed” and enter the item’s category. You can provide details later.
Publishing your report is free and your details stay private. The assisted search is a separate paid service, described in the Terms.
Recent activity
California : found property must be held by law enforcement for at least 90 days before it can pass to the finder, be auctioned or disposed of. (California Civil Code §2080.2)
Reported in Santa Barbara
- Platinum and diamond eternity bamdOctober 17
- Cheetah Print WalletOctober 12
Across the United States
- Wrislet clutch gray/silver bag with documents · Chicago, IL, October 8
- Ring TM on top · Greensboro, NC, October 8
- Keys · Sarasota, FL, October 8
- Keys · Brookline, MA, October 7
- Camera · Monterey, CA, October 7
Local contact details reviewed on July 13, 2026.
How ReportLost Works in Santa Barbara
You tell us what you lost
Describe your missing item, where you lost it in Santa Barbara, and when. We gather the exact details needed to alert the right local departments and channels.
We route it to the right places
Your report goes to Santa Barbara Police, Harbor Patrol, Santa Barbara Airport, MTD transit lost & found, UCSB Police if relevant, and local community groups. You don't juggle phone calls and forms; we do.
We monitor for your item automatically
Our system searches the web, local Facebook groups, Nextdoor, Craigslist, and other platforms continuously for months, looking for posts matching your item's description, location, and timing. You get an alert the moment a credible match surfaces, so you're not refreshing sites every day.
Where to Report a Lost Item in Santa Barbara
Below are the main local agencies that receive and hold lost items. ReportLost connects you to all of them at once, and handles follow-ups for you.
Santa Barbara Police Department
The Police Department's Property & Evidence division holds found items brought in by the public or recovered during investigations. Items are typically held for a set period before donation. We identify which police facility matches your loss location and provide the details they'll need.
Property & Evidence appointments: (805) 897-2375|Non-emergency dispatch: (805) 882-8900
Harbor Patrol Lost & Found
If you lost something at the waterfront, beach, or harbor area, Santa Barbara's Harbor Patrol maintains a dedicated lost & found office. They're familiar with items dropped on docks, at the beach, and along the waterfront path. We ensure your report reaches them with the exact location details.
Santa Barbara Airport Lost & Found
Items left in the terminal, at security, or on aircraft are held by the airport's Security Operations office. Reach out quickly if you lost something at the airport, as items can be transferred. We flag your report with the airport's records system.
Santa Barbara MTD Bus Transit
Left something on a Santa Barbara MTD bus? The transit system keeps a centralized lost & found for items found aboard vehicles or at the transit center. Call or visit during business hours to report or claim. We make sure your item description matches MTD's system.
UCSB Police Lost & Found
If you lost something on the UC Santa Barbara campus, UCSB's Police Department maintains its own lost & found system. Items found in buildings, dorms, or campus grounds go there. We route your report directly to their database.
UCSB Police Lost & Found: (805) 893-3843 or lost.found@police.ucsb.edu
Lost or Found Pet
If your pet has gone missing in Santa Barbara, the Santa Barbara County Animal Shelter and the City's Animal Control both maintain records of strays and found animals. Call the lost pet hotline daily, and check the county's interactive map regularly. For a comprehensive lost pet strategy that includes automatic monitoring and community alerts, file a priority lost pet report.
Santa Barbara County Animal Shelter intake: (805) 964-4777 ext. 310|City Animal Control lost/found hotline: (805) 564-6862
Santa Barbara City Hall
City Hall serves as a general information hub and can direct you to the right department if you're unsure where your lost item should be reported. They can also clarify local procedures and retention policies.
⚠️ Spotted incorrect or outdated information? Let us know so we can review it.
Getting ahead matters
The sooner you report a loss, the fresher the trail and the better the chances someone's already turned it in. Once your report is filed with ReportLost, you've alerted all the key local offices and put our monitoring system to work. From there, you can relax knowing the right people are looking.
Report my lost item →Losing something in Santa Barbara, whether it's at the beach, downtown, the airport, or on the bus, means reaching out to different offices spread across the city and county. Harbor Patrol handles waterfront finds, the Police Department manages general lost property, MTD transit has its own lost & found, UCSB operates a separate system if you lost something on campus, and the airport requires its own inquiry. Figuring out which door to knock on takes time, and once you report, most people abandon the search after a week or two.
ReportLost simplifies the whole process. You file one report with us, and we immediately notify all the relevant local services with the right details. But the real difference is that we don't stop there: our automated monitoring scans hundreds of local and national channels every day, checking for posts, listings, and messages that match your lost item. You can move on with your day knowing that a dedicated system is working in the background, watching for your belongings across Santa Barbara's community networks and marketplaces.
Common Places Where People Lose Items in Santa Barbara
Lost something at the beach, downtown, or around campus? Knowing the location helps us alert the right office.
Waterfront & Harbor
Items left at the beach, along the harbor path, docks, or the pier often end up with Harbor Patrol or nearby businesses. The waterfront is busy in summer, so reporting quickly helps.
Downtown & State Street
Wallets, phones, and bags are frequently dropped in shops, restaurants, and along State Street. Downtown Santa Barbara Police and local businesses maintain lost & found areas.
UCSB Campus
Items lost in dorms, libraries, lecture halls, and campus grounds go to UCSB Police Lost & Found. Campus is large, so identifying the specific building or area helps.
Santa Barbara Airport
Things left at the ticket counter, security, gate areas, or on planes are managed by airport Security Operations. Report quickly, as transferred items may leave the system.
MTD Bus & Transit Center
Bags, phones, and everyday items left on buses or at the transit center are collected and held. Provide the bus route and approximate time if you remember.
Santa Barbara Community Networks
Active local groups and forums where people post found items and coordinate searches. ReportLost monitors these automatically, but you can also check them directly.
Facebook group for posting and searching for lost items across Santa Barbara
Facebook community dedicated to lost and found pets in the area
Reddit community discussing Santa Barbara topics, including lost & found posts and resources
Neighborhood app where Santa Barbara residents post found items and search alerts
Classifieds section for lost and found items in the Santa Barbara area
Questions About Lost & Found in Santa Barbara
How long does Santa Barbara Police hold found items?
Generally, found items held by the Police Department's Property & Evidence division are kept for a set retention period before being donated or disposed of. Contact the Property & Evidence office at (805) 897-2375 to confirm the current holding period and to arrange an appointment to claim your item.
What do I do if I lost something at UCSB?
Contact UCSB Police Lost & Found at (805) 893-3843 or email lost.found@police.ucsb.edu. Provide the building or area where you lost the item, the date, and a detailed description. Items are held for a certain period, so reaching out promptly improves your chances.
How do I report a lost item found on an MTD bus?
Call MTD Lost & Found at (805) 963-3366 during their operating hours (Weekdays 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., Weekends 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Provide the bus route number, time of travel, and a detailed description. Items are held for a limited time before being donated.
What's the best way to search for a lost pet in Santa Barbara?
Call the City's Animal Control lost pet hotline at (805) 564-6862 and contact the Santa Barbara County Animal Shelter at (805) 964-4777 ext. 310. Post on local Facebook pet groups and check the Santa Barbara County interactive map for lost and found animals. Shelters recommend calling daily and checking their sites throughout the day. For comprehensive monitoring and community alerts, consider filing a priority lost pet report with ReportLost.
If I lost something at Santa Barbara Airport, how quickly should I call?
Call the Airport Security Operations office at (805) 681-4803 as soon as possible. Items left in terminals or on aircraft can be transferred or relocated, especially if your flight connected elsewhere. The airport recommends contacting them within 24 hours and providing a detailed description and where exactly you lost the item.
Is ReportLost.org an official city service or part of the Santa Barbara Police Department?
No, ReportLost is an independent service that partners with local agencies but is not run by the city or police. We're a third-party system designed to simplify the reporting process and provide continuous monitoring. We help you file reports with the official agencies (Police, Harbor Patrol, Airport, Transit, etc.) and automatically watch for matches across the web and community platforms on your behalf. Filing a ReportLost report does not replace contacting the authorities directly, but it saves you time by doing the coordination for you.
Lost & found in nearby cities
Ready to report your lost item?
The sooner you get your loss documented and circulating across Santa Barbara's network, the sooner the search can begin. ReportLost handles the routing and the monitoring; you just need to describe what you lost. Submit your report now, and our system will start working the moment you hit send.
Start my report →ReportLost.org is an independent service and is not affiliated with the City of Santa Barbara, the Santa Barbara Police Department, Harbor Patrol, Santa Barbara Airport, MTD, UCSB, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office, or any local government agency. We are a private platform designed to help coordinate lost item reporting and provide automated monitoring across public channels. Filing a report with ReportLost does not replace contacting local authorities or agencies directly, though we facilitate and monitor those connections on your behalf. All phone numbers, hours, and procedures are based on publicly available information and are subject to change; please verify current details with each agency before visiting.