Will I get fined if I don't report a theft right away?

My documents were stolen. I didn't report it right away because I was holding out hope that someone would call me to say they’d been found, which would have saved me the headache of replacing everything—especially since all these fees really add up. It’s already been a month. If I go to the police now and admit I spent the last month just waiting around, am I going to get slapped with a fine?

I wouldn't count on that—I can't speak for your specific situation, obviously, but when I got married, I didn't bother meeting that thirty-day window for updating my paperwork either, and nobody ever came knocking... 🤷

Identity Card Act

Section 16.
An individual is required to report the loss or discovery of an identity card to the nearest relevant authority without delay.

Section 25.
A fine ranging from $1,500.00 to $833 will be imposed on any person who commits the following violation:
...
3. failing to report the loss or finding of an identity card without delay (per Section 16, paragraph 1),

I guess what you should actually be worried about is someone using your ID to snag a high-end smartphone for basically nothing, maybe signing you up for a two-year contract at $100 a month.
That’s why you really need to report a lost ID as soon as possible.

When I lost mine, the cops just told me to hang tight while they looked into it and then they'd get back to me 🤷

You aren't actually going to pay that fine. Just go ahead and file a formal dispute to get it cleared.👍