Lost & Found Services in Minnesota

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

Most Populated Cities in Minnesota

Minneapolis

St. Paul

Rochester

Duluth

St. Cloud

Bloomington

How Lost & Found Works in Minnesota

Minnesota is one of the few states where lost property has its own statute instead of just a mash of city ordinances. Minnesota Statutes 345.15 and 345.16 spell out what happens when personal property turns up abandoned on a public way, sidewalk, or other public premises, including a sheriff's power to seize it, a minimum three month hold before it can be sold at public auction, and a 90 day window for the rightful owner to reclaim it after notice by paying any expenses incurred.

Cities and counties layer their own lost and found ordinances on top of that framework. Departments in places like West St. Paul, Minnetonka, and Isanti hold found property for at least 90 days unless someone claims it with satisfactory proof of ownership, and county sheriff's offices such as Anoka County publish retention schedules that stretch to six months for valuables. 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 Minnesota

Sheriff seizure of abandoned property (Sec. 345.15)

Under Minnesota Statutes 345.15, a county sheriff may seize and retain personal property abandoned on a public way, sidewalk, or other public premises. The sheriff must hold the property for at least three months before selling it at public auction, and reasonable public notice of the sale has to be given first.

Owner's 90 day reclaim window (Sec. 345.16)

Minnesota Statutes 345.16 gives the rightful owner 90 days from notice to reclaim seized or abandoned property, as long as they pay any expenses the agency incurred processing and storing it. Miss that window and the property can move to sale or disposal.

Local police lost and found ordinances

Most Minnesota police departments run their own lost and found program layered on top of state law. Ordinances in cities such as West St. Paul, Minnetonka, and Isanti require the chief of police to keep found property in a safe place for a period of at least 90 days, and it only goes back to the finder or gets released to a new owner if the true owner does not step forward with satisfactory proof.

Theft of lost or mislaid property (Sec. 609.52)

Minnesota's theft statute, Sec. 609.52, applies to someone who keeps property they know is lost or mislaid instead of turning it in. Penalties scale with value, misdemeanor theft covers property worth less than $500, and the statute lays out higher felony tiers as the dollar amount climbs.

County retention schedules vary

Retention periods are not identical everywhere. Anoka County's lost and found policy, for example, holds valuable and crucial items for six months, longer than the 90 day minimum set by many city ordinances, so how long your item sits in a property room depends on which department has it.

Where items end up in Minnesota

A phone left at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) routes through airport lost and found, not the city police property room. A bag left on a Metro Transit bus or light rail line goes through Metro Transit's own lost and found, separate from Minneapolis or St. Paul police. Items left at Mall of America, US Bank Stadium, Target Center, or Xcel Energy Center typically go to venue or private security lost and found before anything reaches a municipal department, and county sheriff's offices handle property recovered from public ways and county parks under Sec. 345.15. 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 Minnesota?

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 →

Minnesota Lost & Found FAQ

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

Yes, but you have to prove it is yours. Departments in Minnesota generally require satisfactory proof of ownership before releasing found property, so be ready to describe a serial number, a passcode, a photo stored on the device, or some other private detail only the real owner would know.

Is a reward mandatory in Minnesota?

No. Offering a reward is always your choice in Minnesota, not a legal requirement. Some finders and departments appreciate a token of thanks, but nothing in state law or local ordinance forces you to pay one to get your property back.

How long will my local police department hold my item?

It depends on the department. Many Minnesota cities hold found property for at least 90 days under local ordinance, while some counties, like Anoka County, extend that to six months for valuables. Statewide, Sec. 345.16 gives you 90 days from notice to reclaim seized property before it can be sold.

What happens if nobody claims my lost item?

Under Sec. 345.15, a sheriff who has held abandoned property for at least three months can sell it at public auction after giving reasonable public notice. Local police departments generally follow a similar path, holding property for their required period and then disposing of it or turning proceeds over to the city or county.

Can I be in trouble for keeping something I found?

Yes, potentially. Minnesota's theft statute, Sec. 609.52, covers keeping lost or mislaid property you know is not yours, with penalties that scale by value starting at misdemeanor theft for items worth less than $500. Turning found items in to police or the property's owner is the safer route.

This page provides general information about Minnesota 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 Minnesota

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