Lost something in Swarthmore? Report it and we'll route it to the right places.
One report connects with the Swarthmore Police Department, local lost & found offices, and active community channels. Your report stays active and keeps searching for a match.
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
Pennsylvania : there is no single statewide holding period. Each department, transit agency and venue defines its own retention and claim procedure, often a few months, never guaranteed.
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 in Swarthmore
You tell us what you lost
Describe your item, where you lost it, and when. We gather the details that matter to local searchers.
We route it to the right channels
Your report goes to the Swarthmore Police Department, relevant Borough offices, and the community groups and platforms where locals post found items.
Your report keeps searching for you
For 12 months, your report stays active and matches against new found posts, community announcements, and local marketplace listings. You get an alert if a credible match appears, so you don't have to check every day yourself.
Where to report a lost item in Swarthmore
From the police to the borough office to community groups, here's what each place does and how ReportLost helps you reach them all at once.
Swarthmore Police Department
The borough police keeps a lost and found log and works with residents to recover items found in public spaces. They're your official record and first point of contact for stolen or found items. Office hours are Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. We provide the exact details to include when you file a report.
Swarthmore Borough Hall
Borough Hall, at the center of town, manages found items left in public buildings and coordinates with police and community services. Staff can direct you to the right department and help track reports across borough property. Open Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ReportLost generates the information needed to make your report count.
Swarthmore College Public Safety
If you lost your item on or near the college campus, Public Safety maintains a lost and found and can help reunite you with belongings found in college facilities or grounds. They work closely with the borough and keep detailed records.
Local Transit
If you lost an item on a BARTA or RRTA bus serving the area, call the transit operator's lost and found within 7 days. Items are held briefly, so reporting quickly improves your chances. ReportLost identifies which carrier serves your route and what info to provide.
Lost Pets
Found a lost dog or cat in Swarthmore? The Brandywine Valley SPCA and local animal welfare groups maintain lost pet networks and shelter records. If your pet is missing, reach out to shelters and community groups right away. For priority help getting the word out, file a priority lost pet report.
⚠️ Spotted incorrect or outdated information? Let us know so we can review it.
Every hour counts, but once you report, you can breathe.
The sooner you file a report, the sooner people start looking. But you don't have to spend weeks refreshing community posts and calling around. Your report does that for you, across all the places Swarthmore residents check when they find something.
Report my lost item →Swarthmore is a tight-knit borough, but losing a wallet, ring, or keys across its neighborhoods and parks means checking with the police, Borough Hall, local shops, the college, and community pages separately. Each has its own system, its own timeline, and no guarantee your report reaches the next person who might find your item.
ReportLost brings all those channels together in one report. You describe your loss once, we notify the right people, and then your report keeps working for you, automatically matching new found announcements and posts for months so you can move forward while the search continues quietly in the background.
Common places where things go missing in Swarthmore
Lost items show up in these neighborhoods and locations. Your report will reach the right departments and community groups for each area.
Downtown Swarthmore (Park Avenue area)
The hub around Borough Hall, police headquarters, and local shops. Items are often turned in to the police or nearby businesses.
Swarthmore College campus
College Public Safety maintains a lost and found for the 500 College Avenue area. Keys, wallets, and personal items found on campus are logged quickly.
Residential neighborhoods and parks
Streets like Palmers Lane and green spaces. Neighbors post found items on community boards and social media, and local police receive reports of items left behind.
Transit stops and bus routes
BARTA and RRTA buses serving Swarthmore keep lost items for 7 days. Report to the transit operator immediately if you left something aboard.
Community channels where found items are posted
Swarthmore residents post found items on these platforms. ReportLost broadcasts your report to these spaces so locals can help.
Delaware County lost and found groups, Swarthmore community pages
Neighborhood-level posts about found items and community alerts
Parks, Borough Hall, and shops display found items and notices
Questions about reporting a lost item in Swarthmore
How long do the Swarthmore Police keep lost and found items?
The police log and hold found items, but holding periods vary depending on the item and circumstances. It's best to contact them at 610-543-0123 or visit 121 Park Avenue right away. ReportLost ensures your report is filed and active while you follow up directly.
How long are items kept at Swarthmore College Public Safety?
Contact the college at (610) 328-8281 to ask about their specific holding timeline. Items are often kept for weeks if they have identifying information. Report quickly and include the college location in your description so ReportLost can alert the right department.
What happens to items lost on the bus?
BARTA and RRTA keep lost items for 7 days. Call the transit operator's lost and found as soon as possible. Include your route, the time you lost the item, and a description. ReportLost routes your report to the right transit provider so they know to look.
Can I report a lost item on weekends or after hours?
The police office hours are Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Borough Hall is open Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can report online with ReportLost anytime, and we'll ensure your report reaches the police and Borough Hall as soon as they open, plus broadcast it to community channels immediately.
How does ReportLost work with Swarthmore's police and borough services?
ReportLost is an independent service. We're not part of the police or Borough government, but we work with you to file a report directly with them and send it to community channels at the same time. We also keep your report active and matching against new found posts for months, so you don't lose momentum if nothing turns up right away.
Lost & found in nearby cities
Here is where to report it.
The sooner you report, the sooner Swarthmore's police, borough offices, college, and community members can help. Once your report is filed, the search works in the background for months, freeing you to focus on moving forward.
Start my report →ReportLost.org is an independent lost and found service. We are not affiliated with the Swarthmore Police Department, Swarthmore Borough, Swarthmore College, BARTA, RRTA, or any other local entity listed. We help you file reports with official services and reach community channels; we do not replace them. Always contact the police, Borough Hall, or relevant authorities directly for urgent or criminal matters.