Lost & Found Services in Alaska
Discover how to report or find lost items across major cities in Alaska. We help you connect with local services, transportation hubs, and more.
Most Populated Cities in Alaska
How Lost & Found Works in Alaska
If you lose something in Alaska, from a phone left on the Alaska Marine Highway ferry to a wallet dropped at a Fairbanks gas station, the state actually has something many states lack: a real statute that spells out what a finder is supposed to do with your property, and what happens if they don't do it.
Alaska Statutes Title 12 tells a finder to turn property over to a law enforcement agency and sets a one year clock before that finder can ever claim it as their own. Alaska Statutes Title 11 backs that up with a criminal charge for anyone who knowingly pockets lost or mislaid property instead. On top of that statewide framework, each city, from Anchorage to Juneau to Fairbanks, runs its own police property room with its own local holding periods. ReportLost is an independent service. A free report creates a public listing; paid options add public-web monitoring, and the $25 team-assisted option also includes relevant local outreach. Agencies and venues set their own filing and holding procedures.
What the Law Says in Alaska
Alaska's civil code says that when a private person finds property that is lost, mislaid, or delivered by mistake, delivering it to a law enforcement agency is the required step. If the true owner remains unknown or does not claim the property within one year, the finder can become the owner. That one year window is longer than the holding period in most states, which is good news if you are slow to file a report.
Alaska criminal law makes it a crime, not just bad manners, to keep something you know belongs to someone else because it was lost, mislaid, or delivered to you by mistake. This is the statute Alaska police departments point to when they remind the public that finders keepers is not actually the law here.
Underneath the state statute, individual departments run their own property rooms with their own timelines. Juneau Police Department holds unclaimed property for 90 days and unclaimed money for 6 months, with a written notice required if a finder wants to claim it. Anchorage Police Department can hold property anywhere from 10 days to 50 years or longer depending on the type of case, municipal code, and other legal holds involved. Always check with the specific department handling your item.
Separate from police lost and found, Alaska's Department of Revenue runs a statewide unclaimed property program for things like uncashed checks, dormant accounts, and other holder-reported property. Holders must file by November 1 each year for property held as of the prior June 30, and dormancy periods run from 1 to 15 years depending on the property type, with due diligence notices required once a property's value reaches 100 dollars.
Where items end up in Alaska
Lost items in Alaska tend to surface through a small number of predictable channels: Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, Fairbanks International Airport, and Juneau International Airport lost and found offices, the Alaska Marine Highway System ferries that connect coastal communities, cruise ship terminals during the summer season, local transit like Anchorage's People Mover and Juneau's Capital Transit, and city police department property rooms in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau. Hotels, museums, and rideshare drivers round out the rest. The city pages below list local contacts. ReportLost is independent; its free public listing, six-month automatic monitoring and twelve-month team-assisted option are described on the report form.
Lost something in Alaska?
A free report creates a public listing. The $12 option adds six months of automatic monitoring, a ReportLost certificate, an anonymous case address, and QR stickers. The $25 option adds manual research, direct service contact, report submission, local social sharing, and 12 months of monitoring.
Report my lost item →Alaska Lost & Found FAQ
Do I get my item back if someone turned it in?
Yes, if you can prove it is yours. Departments typically ask you to describe the item and provide one detail only the true owner would know, like a specific mark, a photo stored on the phone, or what is inside a bag, before releasing it to you.
Is a reward mandatory in Alaska?
No. Alaska law does not require you to pay a reward for the return of lost property. Offering one is always your choice, not a legal obligation.
What happens if someone keeps my lost item instead of turning it in?
Under AS 11.46.160, a person who knowingly keeps property they know is lost or mislaid can be charged with theft of lost or mislaid property. Reporting the loss promptly to police creates a record that matters if this comes up later.
How long will Alaska police hold my item before it's disposed of?
It depends on the department. Juneau holds property for 90 days and cash for 6 months. Anchorage can hold items anywhere from 10 days to 50 years depending on the case. Statewide, AS 12.36.045 gives a finder up to one year before they can claim unclaimed property as their own, so you generally have time, but check with the specific department that has your item.
What if my lost cash or property ends up reported to the state instead of a police department?
Financial property like uncashed checks or dormant funds can end up with Alaska's Unclaimed Property Division rather than a police property room. Dormancy periods there run from 1 to 15 years depending on the property type, and you can search and claim through the state's unclaimed property program.
This page provides general information about Alaska law as of publication and is not legal advice. Procedures vary by city and department; verify details with your local authorities. Last reviewed: July 2026.
All Cities We Cover in Alaska
Each city page lists the local lost & found contacts and how to report a loss there.