Lost & Found Services in Massachusetts

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

Most Populated Cities in Massachusetts

Boston

Worcester

Springfield

New Bedford

Cambridge

Lowell

How Lost & Found Works in Massachusetts

Massachusetts is one of the few states with a real, on the books statute for what a police department has to do with property someone hands in. General Law Chapter 135, Section 8 spells out the finder's duty, the reporting steps, and even a fine for a finder who ignores them. That gives Massachusetts a clearer paper trail than most states, at least on paper.

In practice, what happens to your phone, bag, or wallet after it is found in Boston, Worcester, or Springfield still depends heavily on which department picked it up and how that department's own property room policy works. Some hold items for a month, some for a year. 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 Massachusetts

The finder's duty statute, G.L. c. 135, §8

Massachusetts law requires a finder to report lost money or goods, and covers what a police department does with unclaimed property once it is turned in. A finder who does not comply can face a fine of not less than fifty dollars. This is the backbone of how a Massachusetts lost and found report actually gets handled once you file it with a department.

Holding periods vary by department

Chapter 135, Section 8 references a one month unclaimed period as a trigger point in the process, but individual departments set their own practical hold times on top of that. Marshfield Police, for example, holds found property for one year before it can become the property of the finder, and Wakefield's property unit describes a similar one year mark for private holders who file a timely report. Falmouth handles arrest related property differently, on a 30 day cycle. Always confirm the actual hold time with the department that has your item.

Larceny risk under G.L. c. 266, §30

Massachusetts larceny law covers stealing, embezzling, or converting someone else's personal property, and keeping something you know is not yours after finding it can fall under this statute rather than simple lost and found. Property valued under 250 dollars is typically charged as petty larceny, a misdemeanor, which is one more reason departments push finders to report rather than keep.

A separate track for money and financial property

Massachusetts also runs the Unclaimed Property Law under G.L. c. 200A, handled through the State Treasurer's findmassmoney.gov site. This covers abandoned bank accounts, uncashed checks, and similar financial property, not the phone you left on the T. It is a completely separate system from a police department's found property room, and it is worth checking if you are searching for money rather than a physical item.

Where items end up in Massachusetts

Logan International Airport in Boston runs its own lost and found through Massport, separate from any city police department, and if your item was left on a plane the airline holds a different piece of it. The MBTA, covering the Boston subway, buses, and commuter rail, has its own transit lost and found process, and regional agencies elsewhere in the state run their own. Local police departments across Massachusetts, from Boston down to smaller cities and towns, hold found property under their own version of the Chapter 135 process. Big venues, museums, Fenway Park, TD Garden, and downtown retail districts each have their own house policies for anything left behind. 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 Massachusetts?

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 →

Massachusetts Lost & Found FAQ

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

Yes, but you have to prove it is yours before a Massachusetts police department or venue will release it. That usually means matching a serial number, showing a photo with metadata, or naming a specific detail about the item's contents or condition that only the owner would know. Departments hold found property specifically so they can verify this before handing anything over.

Is a reward mandatory in Massachusetts?

No. Massachusetts law does not require a reward for returning lost property. Offering one is entirely up to you, and plenty of items get returned with nothing more than a thank you.

How long will a Massachusetts police department hold my lost item?

It depends on the department. Chapter 135, Section 8 sets a one month unclaimed mark as part of the legal process, but many departments hold property much longer in practice, Marshfield and Wakefield both point to roughly one year before unclaimed property can pass to the finder. Contact the specific department holding your item for its actual policy.

What happens if someone finds my item and just keeps it?

That can cross into larceny under G.L. c. 266, §30, which covers stealing or converting someone else's property, including property that was simply found rather than taken. Items worth under 250 dollars are typically charged as petty larceny, a misdemeanor, which is part of why Massachusetts law pushes finders to report rather than keep what they pick up.

What if I am searching for lost money or a financial account, not a physical item?

That falls under a different Massachusetts system entirely, the Unclaimed Property Law, G.L. c. 200A, run by the State Treasurer through findmassmoney.gov. It covers things like dormant bank accounts and uncashed checks, not physical items in a police department's property room, so it is worth checking separately if that is what you are missing.

This page provides general information about Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts

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