Lost & Found Services in Delaware
Discover how to report or find lost items across major cities in Delaware. We help you connect with local services, transportation hubs, and more.
Most Populated Cities in Delaware
How Lost & Found Works in Delaware
Delaware does not have a single, dedicated lost and found statute like some larger states. Instead, the state's approach to a lost wallet, phone, or bag is built from two different pieces of law: a criminal statute that makes it theft to knowingly keep someone else's lost or mislaid property, and a separate statute telling state police what to do with property that ends up in their custody. Everything else, from a coffee shop's lost and found box to a casino's security office, runs on internal policy rather than a state mandate.
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 Delaware
Delaware has not enacted a standalone civil code section spelling out what a finder must do with lost property, the kind of statute some other states have. What exists instead is a criminal rule about keeping what is not yours, and a rule about what happens to property police are already holding, described below.
Delaware's theft statute directly addresses this situation: a person commits theft when they come into control of lost or mislaid property and, knowing who the owner is or how to find out, keeps it with intent to deprive them of it, instead of taking reasonable steps to return it. Under Title 11's theft grading, this is a class A misdemeanor if the property is worth less than $1,500, and rises to a class G felony at $1,500 or more.
When the Delaware State Police or another state department ends up holding lost, abandoned, or stolen property, this statute governs how it is handled if the owner cannot be located or does not come forward to claim it, including the eventual disposition of the item.
How long a Wilmington precinct, a beach town police desk, or a shopping mall security office holds an item, and what paperwork you need to get it back, is set by that department or business rather than by state law, so the exact process depends on where the item was found.
Where items end up in Delaware
Lost items in Delaware tend to land in a handful of predictable places: local police departments in cities like Wilmington, Dover, and Newark, DART First State buses and stations, the Wilmington Amtrak and SEPTA rail station, New Castle Airport and Wilmington Airport, the Rehoboth Beach and Dewey Beach boardwalk area, Dover International Speedway and Dover Downs Hotel and Casino, and University of Delaware campus buildings. 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 Delaware?
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 →Delaware Lost & Found FAQ
Do I get my item back if someone turned it in?
Yes, but you will need to prove it is yours. Departments and venues generally ask for a description that includes at least one private detail, such as a passcode, a specific mark, or what is inside a bag, before releasing the item to you.
Is a reward mandatory in Delaware?
No. Delaware law does not require finders or owners to offer a reward. Offering one is always your choice, but it is never legally owed.
Is it actually a crime to keep a lost phone or wallet I found in Delaware?
Yes. Under 11 Del. Code § 842, keeping lost or mislaid property when you know or could find out who the owner is, instead of taking reasonable steps to return it, is theft. Depending on the value, that can be charged as a misdemeanor or, at $1,500 or more, a felony.
How long will Delaware police hold my item before it is disposed of?
There is no single statewide holding period written into Delaware law for ordinary lost personal property. State police handle disposition of property in their custody under 29 Del. Code § 8026, but the practical timeline, notices, and claim window are set by each department, so you should confirm directly with the department holding your item.
What if my lost item was actually left in a store or rented space rather than turned in to police?
Businesses, landlords, and venues typically log items in an internal lost and found rather than sending them straight to police, and hold them for a period set by their own policy. Filing a report helps because it lets us alert those specific locations on your behalf, in addition to any relevant department.
This page provides general information about Delaware 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 Delaware
Each city page lists the local lost & found contacts and how to report a loss there.