Lost something in Detroit? Here is where to report it.
File one report and we handle the routing to Detroit Police, Detroit Metro Airport, DDOT transit, and local animal care services, plus 12 months of automated web monitoring across Detroit's social channels, marketplaces, and lost item databases.
What did you lose?
If there isn’t an adequate suggestion, select “Other – My item isn’t listed” and enter the item’s category. You can provide details later.
Publishing your report is free and your details stay private. The assisted search is a separate paid service, described in the Terms.
Recent activity
Reported in Detroit
- A grey eastpak trolley luggageSeptember 24
Across the United States
- Wrislet clutch gray/silver bag with documents · Chicago, IL, October 8
- Ring TM on top · Greensboro, NC, October 8
- Keys · Sarasota, FL, October 8
- Keys · Brookline, MA, October 7
- Camera · Monterey, CA, October 7
Local contact details reviewed on October 7, 2026.
How it works
You file your report
Tell us what you lost, where, and when. We gather the details we'll need to alert the right agencies and channels across the Detroit metro area.
We route and publish
Your report goes directly to the Detroit Police Department's lost and found system, the city's recovery services, and relevant lost item databases. We also publish an alert across Detroit's active social communities.
Our system monitors continuously
For months afterward, our automated search scans Detroit Facebook groups, Nextdoor posts, local marketplaces, pawn shops, and every public channel where found items are posted. You get an alert the moment a credible match appears, so you never miss it.
Where your lost item might be
And where ReportLost routes your report
Detroit Police Department
The city's primary lost and found channel. Report a lost item to the Detroit Police non-emergency line, and your report enters the system. ReportLost tells you the right precinct and phone line to call, files the report details on your behalf, and tracks updates.
Detroit Metro Airport (DTW)
Items left at gates, security checkpoints, baggage claim, or terminals go into the airport's lost and found. The Wayne County Airport Authority maintains a searchable database and holds items for months. We flag your report for the airport authority and check their system regularly on your behalf.
Airport Lost & Found: (734) 942-3669|TSA Security Checkpoint Lost & Found: (734) 942-3126
Detroit Public Transit (DDOT, SMART, TheRide)
Lost something on a bus or at a station? DDOT, SMART, and TheRide each maintain their own lost and found offices. Items are held for a set period, and each system has its own claim process. ReportLost contacts the right transit authority based on where you lost it and monitors their recovery database.
DDOT Customer Service: (313) 933-1300|SMART Lost & Found|TheRide Lost & Found: (734) 973-6500
City of Detroit Services & Public Spaces
Lost something at a city building, park, or public venue? The City of Detroit's general lost and found, plus park and recreation departments, handle items recovered in city spaces. ReportLost helps you identify the right department and ensures your report reaches them.
Lost or Found a Pet?
If you've lost or found a pet in Detroit, the Detroit Animal Care and Control and Michigan Humane Society are your first stops. They maintain searchable databases of lost and found animals and can help with immediate shelter and reunification. file a priority lost pet report with ReportLost for dedicated tracking across local animal networks.
Detroit Animal Care: (313) 628-2451|Michigan Humane Society: (866) 648-6263
⚠️ Spotted incorrect or outdated information? Let us know so we can review it.
Start your report now
The sooner your lost item is in the system, the sooner our automated monitoring begins. Early reports give you weeks of continuous tracking.
Report my lost item →Detroit's lost and found system is fragmented. Your item might turn up at a police precinct, a transit facility, an airport terminal, or a social media group, but there's no single place that checks them all. And by the time you find the right office, critical days have passed.
ReportLost bridges that gap. One report triggers outreach to every relevant Detroit authority, posts your alert where locals actively look, and then watches the entire digital landscape for weeks or months so you don't have to refresh pages every day. Once you report, you can breathe easier. We take it from there.
Common places people lose things in Detroit
If you can narrow down where you lost your item, it helps us prioritize which agencies to contact first.
Downtown Detroit & Midtown
High-traffic commercial and cultural areas around the Guardian Building, Wayne County Building, and midtown shops and restaurants.
Detroit Metro Airport
Terminals, gates, baggage claim, and security checkpoints where travelers frequently leave items behind.
Transit Hubs & Bus Routes
DDOT buses, SMART regional service, TheRide commuter routes, and stations throughout the city and suburbs.
Corktown & Southwest Detroit
Residential and entertainment districts with shops, galleries, bars, and popular gathering spots.
Wayne State University Campus & Surrounding Areas
Campus facilities, libraries, residence halls, and nearby commercial areas where students and visitors lose items.
Where Detroit talks about lost items
ReportLost monitors these channels automatically. You'll get an alert if a match appears.
Facebook group for lost and found items across Michigan
Facebook page dedicated to missing and found pets in the area
Neighborhood-focused pet recovery group
Detroit subreddit where locals post about lost items and sightings
Neighborhood-based app where many lost items are reported and found
Local selling platform where found items are sometimes listed
Common questions about losing things in Detroit
How long does the Detroit Police hold lost items?
The Detroit Police Department's lost and found office holds items for several months before disposal. Contact them at (313) 267-4600 to inquire about a specific item, or visit their Lost & Found office at 31399 East Service Drive, Building 610.
What happens if I lost something on a Detroit bus?
Contact the relevant transit authority. DDOT customers call (313) 933-1300, SMART riders call their Lost & Found line, and TheRide users call (734) 973-6500. Items are typically held for 30 to 60 days. ReportLost contacts all three systems on your behalf.
How do I check the Detroit Metro Airport lost and found?
Call the Wayne County Airport Authority at (734) 942-3669 or check the CLEMIS database online. For items left at TSA security, also contact the TSA Lost & Found at (734) 942-3126. DTW holds items for several months.
Should I post on social media to find my lost item?
Yes, it's a good step. Many Detroiters find lost items through Facebook groups like 'Michigan Lost & Found' and 'Lost and Found Pets (Detroit)', and through Nextdoor. ReportLost publishes your alert to these channels and monitors them continuously so you don't have to.
What's the best way to search for a lost pet in Detroit?
Contact Detroit Animal Care at (313) 628-2451 and the Michigan Humane Society at (866) 648-6263 immediately. Post on PawBoost, the 'Lost and Found Pets (Detroit)' Facebook page, and Nextdoor. Check the DACC in person daily. ReportLost can file a dedicated pet report that triggers alerts across all these networks.
Is ReportLost.org an official city service?
No, ReportLost is an independent service that partners with official agencies like the Detroit Police Department, airport authority, transit systems, and animal services. We don't replace them, but we simplify the process of contacting all of them at once, and we monitor their systems and public channels on your behalf for months.
Lost & found in nearby cities
Start your report here.
The faster you file, the sooner we start monitoring every place it might show up. Give us a few details about what you lost and where, and our team takes it from there.
Start my report →ReportLost.org is an independent service and is not affiliated with the Detroit Police Department, Wayne County Airport Authority, Detroit Department of Transportation, SMART, TheRide, Detroit Animal Care, Michigan Humane Society, or the City of Detroit. We work with these agencies and organizations to improve lost item recovery but operate separately from them. When you file a report with ReportLost, we route your information to the appropriate official channels and monitor public recovery databases and social channels on your behalf. See our full terms and privacy policy for details.