Lost & Found Services in Illinois

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

Most Populated Cities in Illinois

Chicago

Rockford

Peoria

Round Lake Beach

Aurora

Springfield

How Lost & Found Works in Illinois

Illinois still runs on one of the oldest lost property frameworks in the country, the Estrays and Lost Property Act (765 ILCS 1020), and its logic is refreshingly clear: the more your item is worth, the more time you get to claim it.

Six months for items up to $100, a full year above that, with published notices along the way. 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 Illinois

Six months under $100 (765 ILCS 1020)

For found goods or money worth $100 or less with no known owner, the find is advertised at the courthouse, and the owner has 6 months from the advertisement to claim. After that, ownership vests in the finder.

One year above $100

For items worth more than $100, the county clerk publishes a notice in a newspaper for three successive weeks, and the owner has one full year to appear and claim (paying the finder's reasonable charges). Illinois gives high-value items one of the longest claim windows in the country.

Liability when a found item is sold

Anyone who sells, trades, destroys or disposes of a found item before the legal vesting period ends owes the owner double the item's value, recoverable in court. The law is firmly on the side of the original owner during the window.

Where items end up in Illinois

Found items are held by city police and county sheriff property units, while the CTA, Metra, O'Hare and Midway run their own high-volume lost & found desks, as do stadiums, hotels and universities; animal care and control handles pets. The city pages below list local contacts. ReportLost is independent; its free listing, six-month automatic monitoring and twelve-month team-assisted option are described on the report form.

Lost something in Illinois?

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 →

Illinois Lost & Found FAQ

How long do I have to claim a found item in Illinois?

Six months for items worth $100 or less, one year for items worth more, counted from the legal advertisement. High-value items enjoy one of the longest windows in the country.

I lost something on the CTA or at O'Hare, who holds it?

The CTA, Metra and both airports each run their own lost & found, separate from police property rooms, with their own shorter retention policies. The report form describes ReportLost’s free public listing, six-month automatic monitoring and twelve-month team-assisted option with relevant outreach.

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

The agency may ask you to prove ownership with a photo, serial number or identifying detail. Keep one detail private when contacting a finder or agency so it can help confirm ownership.

Is a reward mandatory in Illinois?

No, but the law does let the finder recover reasonable charges and expenses when a high-value item is claimed. A reward beyond that is your choice.

What if the finder never reported the item?

A finder who keeps an item without following the process has no legal title. Under the statute, a finder who sells the item before completing the required process may be liable for twice its value.

This page provides general information about Illinois 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 Illinois

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