Words (Core Vocabulary)
- lost & found / report / claim / case number
- describe / identify / prove ownership
- serial number / IMEI / distinguishing features
- turn in / handed in / recovered
- transit lost & found / station office / bus depot
- municipal services / 311 / service request
- pothole / cracked sidewalk / streetlight out / graffiti
- illegal dumping / abandoned vehicle / dead animal pickup
- missed garbage pickup / overflowing bin
- follow-up / escalation / SLA (service level agreement)
- non-emergency police report (for theft/lost ID)
Phrases (Report, track, recover)
Lost & found
- I lost my wallet/phone yesterday on [bus/park/store]—has anything been turned in?
- Here’s the serial number/IMEI—could you check your system?
- What ID do you need for pickup?
311 / City services
- I’d like to report a pothole/streetlight out at [location].
- There was a missed garbage pickup on our block—could you reschedule?
- Can I attach photos to the service request?
- Could you provide a case number and estimated timeline?
If theft or sensitive items
- I’d like to file a non-emergency police report for a stolen bike.
- My ID was lost—what’s the process to replace it?
Contextual Examples (Natural, everyday)
- **Hi—**I lost my phone on the #25 bus at about 5 p.m. Has it been turned in to lost & found?
- 311 call: I’d like to report a streetlight out on Oak & 12th. I can text photos if helpful.
- Follow-up: I’m checking on case number #123456—is there an ETA for the pothole repair?
- Store desk: I left my backpack yesterday—did anyone hand it in?
Collocations & Phrases (bold the key words)
Lost & found process
- file a lost item report
- provide proof of ownership
- verify serial numbers
- arrange a pickup
- recover property
311 service
- submit a service request
- attach photos
- receive a case number
- request an update
- escalate an issue
Common city issues
- repair a pothole
- replace a streetlight
- remove graffiti
- collect missed garbage
- clear illegal dumping
Canadian Cultural Context (How to sound natural & polite)
- Most cities offer 311 by phone/app/web for non-emergency municipal issues—have the exact location ready.
- Transit agencies keep lost & found items at central depots—check within 24–48 hours.
- For lost IDs/credit cards, notify issuers right away to prevent misuse.
- Stay calm and factual; photos and serial numbers speed things up.
Extra Mini-Patterns (plug-and-play)
- Lost phone: “I lost my phone on the #XX bus around 5 p.m.—here’s the IMEI. Could you check?”
- 311 pothole: “I’d like to report a pothole at [exact intersection]—I can attach photos. May I have a case number?”
- Missed pickup: “Our compost was missed on [date]—could you reschedule the collection?”