Philadelphia Expands Electronic Repo Reporting to Eight Police Districts |

Two more districts join November 1 as police adjust operations to accommodate growing electronic reporting volume.

Philadelphia, PA — October 30, 2026 — The Philadelphia Police Department will expand its electronic repossession reporting pilot program to eight police districts beginning November 1, continuing a phased rollout designed to streamline vehicle recovery reporting and eliminate unnecessary trips to police stations.

Philadelphia Expands Electronic Repo Reporting to Eight Police Districts — **Click image to see original bulletin and download**

According to an October 21 information bulletin and accompanying email from Detective Colleen Brown, of the Office of Deputy Commissioner Francis T. Healy, the 1st and 14th Police Districts will join the program on November 1.

The expansion follows the October addition of the 16th and 22nd Districts and the program’s original August 3 launch in the 8th, 19th, 26th and 39th Districts.

The pilot, scheduled to continue through January 31, 2027, allows qualifying repossessions to be reported electronically rather than requiring recovery agents to transport vehicles to police district stations for in-person inspection.

Expansion Continues Despite Growing Workload

In her accompanying email, Detective Brown indicated that the department hopes to continue expanding the program monthly, provided it can manage the administrative workload and resolve operational issues.

Brown acknowledged that increasing reporting volume has already required adjustments to the department’s original internal procedures.

“We have recently had to adjust the original internal operational plan due to increasing volume,” Brown wrote, adding that Police Radio personnel are working through the necessary adjustments.

The department has not indicated that these challenges will delay the November expansion.

Eight Districts Participating November 1

The following Philadelphia police districts will be included in the electronic reporting pilot:

1st District — Effective November 1
8th District
14th District — Effective November 1
16th District
19th District
22nd District
26th District
39th District

Repossession companies operating outside these eight districts must continue following the city’s existing in-person reporting and inspection procedures.

Electronic Reporting Requirements

Under the pilot, repossession companies must email the Philadelphia Police Department at Police.Repo@phila.gov within 30 minutes of a repossession.

The notification must include:

A photograph or scanned copy of the repossession order, letter of authorization or encumbered title identifying the first lienholder.
The company’s license number issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities.
A clear photograph of the vehicle’s windshield VIN.
Exterior photographs showing the front, rear, driver’s side and passenger’s side.
The address where the repossession occurred.
An emergency telephone number or email address.

Procedures for Stolen Vehicles and Evidence Holds

The October 21 bulletin also clarifies procedures when a repossessed vehicle is identified as stolen or is needed for a criminal investigation.

When a vehicle is identified as stolen, the towing company will be notified that the vehicle was in stolen status and has been marked as recovered.

If a vehicle is designated “Guard for Prints,” the Police Radio Room Supervisor will notify the repossession company by email and request that the vehicle be held.

The company must hold the vehicle for a reasonable period of no less than 72 hours to allow investigators to make contact.

Investigators may subsequently arrange to process the vehicle at the recovery company’s storage lot under a search warrant. If the vehicle must be moved for investigative or evidentiary purposes, police towing services will be contacted.

Additional Operational Guidance

The department’s bulletin also reiterates several operational policies affecting recovery companies.

Police officers will not assist with forced entry during writ service. During disputes, officers will monitor the situation to maintain the peace but will not act as mediators.

The bulletin also addresses firearms discovered inside repossessed vehicles. Firearms recovered by agencies located within Philadelphia may be processed at any police district, or officers may be dispatched to the recovery agency’s office to retrieve them.

Agencies located outside Philadelphia must contact their local police department for firearm recovery and processing.

Pilot Continues Through January

The electronic reporting program grew out of discussions involving the Philadelphia Police Department, the Pennsylvania Repossessors Association (PARA), and litigation involving Giannone Companies and the city.

The initiative addresses longstanding industry concerns about the delays and safety risks associated with requiring recovery agents to transport repossessed vehicles to police stations for physical inspection.

With eight districts participating as of November 1, the pilot will have doubled in size since its original four-district rollout in August.

The current pilot period is scheduled to conclude January 31, 2027. While the department hopes to continue adding districts monthly, further expansion remains dependent on its ability to manage increasing reporting volume and resolve operational issues.

Repossession companies with questions about the pilot may contact Philadelphia Police Radio at 215-686-1295.