Lost something in Hampstead? Here is who to contact.
File a single report and we route it to the Surf City Police Department, Pender County Sheriff, and local community channels. Your report stays active, continuously searching for matches across local lost & found networks.
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
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 October 7, 2026.
How ReportLost works for Hampstead
You file your report
Describe what you lost, where, and when. We generate all the details you'll need to contact the right local departments and services.
We notify the right places
Your report goes directly to the Surf City Police Department, Pender County Sheriff, Pender County Animal Shelter (if it's a pet), and local community pages. No back-and-forth calls for you.
Your report keeps searching
For your entire search period, your report continues to match against new found items posted locally. You get an alert if we find a match, so you don't have to check every day.
Where things go in Hampstead
Who to contact, and what ReportLost does for you
Surf City Police Department
The local police handle lost and found reports for items turned in within Hampstead. We tell you which office covers your loss location and generate the exact information to include when you report.
Pender County Sheriff's Office
The Sheriff's Office covers unincorporated Hampstead areas and coordinates with wider county services. We point you to the right desk if your loss occurred outside the city proper.
Wave Transit (Local Bus Service)
Lost something on a Wave Transit bus in or around Hampstead? Items are kept in lost and found for a set period before disposal. We help you report to the right dispatch line and follow up automatically.
Wilmington International Airport (ILM)
Traveling through ILM? Items turned in at the airport are held in a dedicated lost and found office. We generate the correct phone number and details to reach ILM dispatch and track your report.
Pender County Animal Shelter & Community Pets
Missing dog, cat, or other pet? The Pender County Animal Shelter manages intakes and coordinates with local lost pet Facebook groups that the community actively monitors. File a priority lost pet report to reach all networks at once.
⚠️ Spotted incorrect or outdated information? Let us know so we can review it.
Don't wait to report
The sooner you file, the faster your report reaches the right people and begins its continuous search. Once submitted, our team handles the routing, so you can focus on your day.
Report my lost item →Losing something in Hampstead means navigating multiple phone numbers, scattered lost & found offices, and social media groups all separately. The Surf City Police Department handles reports, the Pender County Sheriff covers the broader area, animal shelters operate on their own schedule, and community Facebook groups post findings at random times. By the time you've contacted everyone, hours have passed.
ReportLost simplifies this. File once, and we route your report to every relevant local channel at the same time, then keep it active and searching for months. You don't need to call around or monitor community pages yourself, your report does the work.
Common places people lose things in Hampstead
If your loss happened in one of these areas, we know exactly which service covers it
Downtown Hampstead (Highway 17 corridor)
Shopping centers, local businesses, and municipal offices cluster around this main thoroughfare. Lost wallets, keys, and phones here typically surface at nearby storefronts or police.
Pender County Government Campus (Burgaw area)
County offices and administrative buildings. Items lost here are often turned in to the main Sheriff's Office or County Administration.
Topsail Island beaches and parking areas
Seasonal activity means lost beach gear, rings, and bags. Check with local beach patrol and community found-item groups.
Hampstead Parks & Recreation areas
Public parks and outdoor spaces where wallets, glasses, and dog leashes disappear. Local parks staff often hold items briefly.
Hampstead community channels
Where locals post found items and help each other out
Facebook group managed by Pender County Animal Shelter, the official hub for pet reports
Active community group for all missing and found pets in the region
Dedicated group for cat-specific reports and sightings
Locals post found items here alongside general community news
Reddit community where Hampstead residents sometimes cross-post lost and found alerts
Questions about reporting a loss in Hampstead
How long do police and shelters hold lost items before getting rid of them?
The Surf City Police Department and Pender County Sheriff typically hold items for 30 to 90 days, depending on the type. Pender County Animal Shelter keeps pets for a similar timeframe. Wave Transit buses discard unclaimed items after 30 days. This is why filing a report early matters, your report keeps searching even after an item leaves one location and surfaces elsewhere.
What if I lost something on a bus, but I don't know which line?
If you're not sure which Wave Transit route or local bus you were on, call Wave Transit at (910) 343-0106 with the day, time, and route area. We help you contact them and supply all the details they need to search their fleet.
I lost my dog in Hampstead. Where do I report it?
Report immediately to the Pender County Animal Shelter at (910) 259-1349, and also post in the official Pender County Lost & Found Pets Facebook group, which the shelter monitors daily. We broadcast to all relevant groups and shelters simultaneously when you file a lost pet report, saving you from making dozens of calls.
I lost my wallet at ILM airport. Do I report to the airport or the police?
Call ILM Lost & Found directly at (910) 341-4336. The airport holds items for a limited time, but we coordinate with both ILM and local police to make sure your report stays active and matches against any items turned in later.
How long does my report stay active with ReportLost?
Your report searches for 12 months, depending on the duration you choose. During that entire time, it's cross-checked against new found items posted in local networks, community groups, and reports to police and shelters, so you're covered even if your item surfaces weeks or months later.
Is ReportLost official, or does it replace reporting to police?
ReportLost is an independent service. We're not part of any police department or government agency, but we coordinate with them on your behalf. Reporting through us doesn't replace calling police or animal control, it streamlines the process by notifying all the right channels at once and keeping your report active longer than you could manage alone.
Lost & found in nearby cities
Report it here.
File your report now and let us handle the routing to Surf City Police, the Pender County Sheriff, and local community channels. Your report will keep searching for the next 12 months.
Start my report →ReportLost.org is an independent service and is not affiliated with the Surf City Police Department, Pender County Sheriff's Office, Pender County Animal Shelter, Wave Transit, Wilmington International Airport, or any local government or agency. We coordinate with these organizations on behalf of our users, but reporting through ReportLost does not replace official reports to police or animal control. Always contact emergency services (911) or the relevant authority directly for urgent situations.