Italiano in pratica

Lost or stolen in Italy: the denuncia, lost luggage and the questions to ask

by Alessio · teacher of Italian for foreigners, ITALS master’s in teaching Italian abroad (Ca’ Foscari University, Venice) and a master’s in teaching Italian as a second language (Giustino Fortunato University, Benevento)

A Carabinieri car parked in Piazza del Popolo in Rome — A Carabinieri car in Piazza del Popolo, Rome: both the Carabinieri and the Polizia take reports.

If something is stolen, report it to the police or the Carabinieri: you get a written report, la denuncia, that insurers and consulates ask for. Reporting is free. If your luggage doesn't arrive, fill in the airline's report at the lost luggage desk before you leave the arrivals hall.

7 min read · Level A2 · Updated Oct 2026 · Phrase PDF

A pocket that feels too light, a suitcase that never comes round the belt: it happens to thousands of travellers in Italy every summer, and the next hour matters more than the loss.

Here is what to do, in order: block the cards, find the right office, get the right document, and say what happened in short, clear Italian.

Say it now: the phrases you need if something is lost or stolen

Italian	English
Mi hanno rubato il portafoglio.	My wallet has been stolen.
Ho perso il passaporto.	I've lost my passport.
Dov'è la stazione dei carabinieri?	Where is the Carabinieri station?
Vorrei fare una denuncia.	I'd like to report a crime.
C'è qualcuno che parla inglese?	Is there someone who speaks English?answer: sì or no
La mia valigia non è arrivata.	My suitcase hasn't arrived.
Mi può dare una copia?	Can you give me a copy?answer: sì or no
Avete trovato un telefono?	Have you found a phone?answer: sì or no

Read the Italian out loud once before you need it. The questions marked sì or no get a one-word answer you can understand.

What do you do first if your wallet or phone is stolen?

Block your cards and your phone first, with your bank's and network's emergency numbers. Then go to the nearest police station, la questura or il commissariato, or to the Carabinieri, la stazione dei carabinieri, and report the theft. You'll get a copy of the report, which your insurer and bank will ask for.

Write down where and when it happened, and what was taken, before you go: you'll be asked. In an emergency, or if you're threatened, call 112.

You say	English
Mi hanno rubato il portafoglio.	My wallet has been stolen.
Dov'è la stazione dei carabinieri?	Where is the Carabinieri station?
Vorrei fare una denuncia.	I'd like to report a crime.
È successo sull'autobus.	It happened on the bus.

You hear	English
Quando è successo?	When did it happen?
Cosa c'era dentro?	What was inside?
Ha bloccato le carte?	Have you blocked the cards?sì or no

What is a denuncia, and why do you need it?

A denuncia is the official report of a crime, such as theft, made to the police or the Carabinieri. It's free. You need a copy for travel insurance claims, to replace documents and to dispute card charges. For a simple loss there's a lighter report, denuncia di smarrimento.

Bring your ID, or a copy of it, and ask for an interpreter if you need one. Since 2026 Italian residents can file some reports online, but the service needs an Italian digital identity, so as a visitor you'll usually go in person.

You say	English
C'è qualcuno che parla inglese?	Is there someone who speaks English?sì or no
Mi può dare una copia?	Can you give me a copy?sì or no
Mi serve per l'assicurazione.	I need it for the insurance.
Devo pagare qualcosa?	Do I have to pay anything?sì or no

You hear	English
Mi dia un documento.	Give me an ID document.
Firmi qui.	Sign here.
È gratuita.	It's free.no charge

You've lost your passport: what next?

Report the loss to the police or Carabinieri, then contact your embassy or consulate, which issues emergency travel documents. They'll ask for the report, photos and proof of identity if you have it.

Keep a photo of your passport's ID page on your phone and in your email before you travel: it makes the consulate's job much faster.

You say	English
Ho perso il passaporto.	I've lost my passport.
Dov'è il consolato britannico?	Where is the British consulate?
Ho una foto del passaporto.	I have a photo of the passport.

You hear	English
Deve fare la denuncia di smarrimento.	You have to report the loss.
Servono due fototessere.	Two passport photos are needed.

The arrivals hall of Rome Fiumicino airport near the baggage belts — The arrivals hall at Rome Fiumicino: the lost luggage desk is here, before you leave.

Your luggage didn't arrive at the airport: what do you say?

Before leaving the arrivals hall, go to the lost luggage desk, bagagli smarriti or Lost & Found, and fill in the airline's report, the PIR (Property Irregularity Report). Bring your boarding pass and the baggage tag sticker. Without that report, tracing and compensation are much harder.

Give the address where you'll be, and ask how they'll deliver the bag. Keep receipts for essentials you buy while you wait: airlines and insurers may refund them.

You say	English
La mia valigia non è arrivata.	My suitcase hasn't arrived.
Ecco l'etichetta del bagaglio.	Here's the baggage tag.
Me la portate in albergo?	Will you bring it to my hotel?sì or no
Quando arriva il prossimo volo?	When does the next flight arrive?

You hear	English
Compili questo modulo.	Fill in this form.
Di che colore è la valigia?	What colour is the suitcase?
La consegniamo entro domani.	We'll deliver it by tomorrow.

Polizia di Stato cars and a motorbike lined up in a square in Rovigo — Polizia di Stato cars at a public event in Rovigo.

Where do you look for something you left on a train or bus?

Ask at the lost property office, l'ufficio oggetti smarriti: big stations, airports and city transport companies have one, and many towns have a municipal office too. Call or go in with a description, the date and the train or bus line.

Things handed in are often kept for a while and then moved to the town's office. Ask in closed questions: it's faster for both of you.

You say	English
Avete trovato un telefono?	Have you found a phone?sì or no
L'ho lasciato sul treno delle dieci.	I left it on the ten o'clock train.
È nero, con una custodia rossa.	It's black, with a red case.
Posso lasciare il mio numero?	Can I leave my number?sì or no

You hear	English
Non è arrivato niente.	Nothing has been handed in.no
Ripassi domani.	Come back tomorrow.
È questo?	Is this it?sì or no

Why is the Italian police report so important?

In some countries you report a stolen phone online in five minutes and never meet a police officer. In Italy the report, la denuncia, is still mostly made in person, at a police station or a Carabinieri station, and it produces a signed document with a protocol number. Reporting is free. That piece of paper is what insurers, banks and consulates ask for, so it's worth the hour it takes.

A dark suitcase covered in airline tags and a «Rush» label after being delivered late — A suitcase that arrived two days late, still wearing its «Rush» tag.

Things are changing. Losses of personal items can already be reported online across Italy, and since June 2026 the State Police has been testing online pre-reports for some crimes, including theft, starting in Lazio. Both, however, require an Italian digital identity, SPID or the electronic ID card, which most visitors don't have. For a tourist, the counter at the station remains the realistic route.

At airports the logic is different: lost luggage is the airline's responsibility, and the key document is its own report, the PIR, filled in at the lost luggage desk before you leave the arrivals hall. Insurers usually want both documents in a theft case: the police report, made quickly, often within 24 hours, and any report to the carrier. Keep every receipt, boarding pass and copy.

How do sì and no sound in real life?

Italians rarely answer with a bare sì or no. These are the forms you will actually hear, so you know which way the answer went.

You hear	English	It means
Sì, certo.	Yes, of course.	yes
Certo!	Sure!	yes
Come no!	Of course! (literally: how not?)	yes
Volentieri.	Gladly.	yes
Va bene.	Fine, OK.	yes
Prego.	Go ahead / please do.	yes
No, mi dispiace.	No, I'm sorry.	no
Purtroppo no.	Unfortunately not.	no
Non c'è.	There isn't any.	no
È finito.	It's sold out / all gone.	no
Non si può.	That's not allowed.	no
Non ancora.	Not yet.	no

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Did they say yes or no?

Six real replies. Tap Yes or No for each one.

Sì, c'è un collega che parla inglese.Yes, there's a colleague who speaks English.
Non è arrivato niente.Nothing has been handed in.
È gratuita.It's free.
Certo, ecco la sua copia.Of course, here's your copy.
No, non l'abbiamo trovato.No, we haven't found it.
Sì, la consegniamo entro domani.Yes, we'll deliver it by tomorrow.

Grammar and exercises for these phrases

The grammar behind them

The passato prossimo ho perso il passaporto, è successo sull'autobus
Indirect pronouns mi hanno rubato il portafoglio, mi può dare una copia?
Direct pronouns l'ho lasciato sul treno, me la portate in albergo?
The imperative firmi qui, compili questo modulo

Exercises

Take the phrases with you

This guide as two printable pages, in English: the phrases to say, the yes/no questions and what you will hear.

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Or keep the eight phrases as an image, to save on your phone or pin:

Lost or stolen in Italy: Italian phrases with English translations, from «Mi hanno rubato il portafoglio.» to «Avete trovato un telefono?»

Italian phrases: Lost or stolen in Italy

Common questions

Where do I report a theft in Italy?

At a police station (questura or commissariato) or a Carabinieri station. Reporting is free, and you get a copy of the report, the denuncia.

What is a denuncia in Italy?

The official report of a crime, such as theft. You need a copy for insurance claims, card disputes and replacing documents.

What do I do if my luggage is lost at an Italian airport?

Before leaving the arrivals hall, fill in the airline's Property Irregularity Report (PIR) at the lost luggage desk, with your boarding pass and baggage tag.

I lost my passport in Italy: what should I do?

Report the loss to the police or Carabinieri, then contact your embassy or consulate for an emergency travel document.

How do you say «my wallet was stolen» in Italian?

«Mi hanno rubato il portafoglio.»