Lost & Found Services in Arkansas

Discover how to report or find lost items across major cities in Arkansas. We help you connect with local services, transportation hubs, and more.

Most Populated Cities in Arkansas

Little Rock

Fayetteville

Fort Smith

Springdale

Jonesboro

Rogers

How Lost & Found Works in Arkansas

Arkansas has no single statewide statute that tells a stranger what to do with your dropped phone or backpack. There is no Arkansas version of California's Civil Code lost property sections. What Arkansas does have is a criminal law that makes it illegal to knowingly keep something you find once you realize it belongs to someone else, plus a separate state system for unclaimed financial property, and a patchwork of city police department policies for physical items turned in at the counter.

That gap between criminal law and everyday practice is where most lost items actually get resolved, city by city, department by department. 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 Arkansas

Common law governs physical lost property

Arkansas has not enacted a dedicated lost-and-found statute covering ordinary found items like wallets, phones, or bags. Ownership and finder obligations for that kind of property are governed by common law principles: the true owner keeps legal title, and a finder does not automatically get to keep what they pick up.

Ark. Code § 5-36-105, theft of lost or mislaid property

Arkansas criminal law directly addresses this situation. A person who comes into control of property they know or should know is lost, mislaid, or delivered by mistake, and fails to take reasonable measures to return it to the owner, can be charged with theft under Ark. Code § 5-36-105. It is a Class D felony if the property is worth $1,000 or more, and a misdemeanor below that.

City police departments hold found items locally

Most Arkansas police departments, including in Little Rock, Fayetteville, and Fort Smith, accept found property at a records or property division and log it for a holding period set by local policy before unclaimed items are disposed of or auctioned. There is no single statewide holding period, so the timeline depends on which department has your item.

Unclaimed Property Act covers money, not backpacks

Arkansas Code Title 18, Chapter 28 creates the Unclaimed Property Act, run by the Arkansas Auditor of State. It applies to financial property such as bank accounts, uncashed checks, and stock, not physical items lost in public. Holders must send a due diligence notice giving owners at least 90 days to respond, and property generally becomes reportable as abandoned three to seven years after it goes dormant.

No fixed statewide clock for physical items

Because there is no dedicated statute for found personal property, how long a department keeps your item before it is released, auctioned, or donated depends on that city's own rules, not a single Arkansas deadline. This is exactly why continuous, city-specific follow up matters more in Arkansas than in states with a set statutory holding period.

Where items end up in Arkansas

Lost items in Arkansas typically surface at one of a few predictable points: Clinton National Airport in Little Rock, Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA), or Fort Smith Regional Airport if you were traveling; Rock Region Metro or Ozark Regional Transit if you were on a bus; and venue lost and found desks at places like Walton Arena, the Walmart AMP, Oaklawn in Hot Springs, or Razorback Stadium if you were at an event. Restaurants, hotels, and retail stores each keep their own found-item box or drawer, separate from any city system. 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 Arkansas?

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 →

Arkansas Lost & Found FAQ

Do I get my item back if someone turned it in?

Yes, if it was turned in to a police department, transit agency, airport, or venue, you can generally reclaim it once you prove ownership. That usually means describing the item accurately and providing one private verification detail, such as a passcode, a specific mark, or the contents of a bag, that only the real owner would know.

Is a reward mandatory in Arkansas?

No. Arkansas has no statute requiring a reward for the return of lost property. Offering one is always your choice, never a legal obligation, and most items are returned without any reward changing hands.

What happens if someone keeps my lost item instead of turning it in?

Arkansas criminal law addresses this directly. Under Ark. Code § 5-36-105, a person who knowingly keeps property they realize is lost or mislaid, without making a reasonable effort to return it, can be charged with theft, a Class D felony if the item is worth $1,000 or more.

Is there a state deadline before my item is sold or disposed of?

There is no single statewide deadline for physical lost items. Each Arkansas police department or venue sets its own holding period before unclaimed property is auctioned or donated. A separate rule applies to unclaimed financial property under the Unclaimed Property Act, which generally becomes reportable three to seven years after it goes dormant.

What about lost cash, checks, or financial property specifically?

That is a different track from a dropped wallet or phone. Uncashed checks, forgotten accounts, and similar financial property fall under the Arkansas Unclaimed Property Act, administered by the Auditor of State. You can search for and claim that kind of property directly through the state's ClaimItAR system.

This page provides general information about Arkansas 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 Arkansas

Each city page lists the local lost & found contacts and how to report a loss there.