Lost something in New York City? Report it and get it back.
One report and we route it to the right NYPD precinct, the relevant MTA, taxi and airport lost & found, and active local social channels.
🔍Recently reported lost items in New York – updated this July 19, 2026
- 📍 Pair of sunglasses lost near Chelsea Market, July 16.
- 📍 Scarf and gloves lost near Sam Leggio Triangle, July 15.
- 📍 Thermos lost near Rego Park Center, July 16.
How we help you recover it in New York
1. You report the loss
Describe the item and where you lost it. The more detail, the better the match.
2. We route it to the right places
The NYPD precinct covering that spot, plus MTA / TLC / airport lost & found and the right social groups.
3. You get matched & notified
If someone finds or turns in your item, you're alerted to arrange pickup.
With more than 8 million residents and over 60 million visitors a year, New York City is one of the easiest places in the world to lose a phone, a wallet, a set of keys — or even a pet. The good news: the city has dozens of well-run lost-and-found systems. The hard part is knowing which one handles your case. Report it here and we point you to the right channel and the NYPD precinct that covers exactly where you lost it.
Whether it happened on the subway, in a yellow cab, at JFK or LaGuardia, in a Midtown hotel or a Central Park bench, acting fast makes a real difference — most lost-and-found offices work on strict deadlines.
Exactly what to do, based on where you lost it
New York has many separate lost-and-found systems. Reporting to the wrong one wastes days — here is the right channel for each.
Subway, bus or Staten Island Railway (MTA)
Tell the nearest station booth agent, or file a claim with NYC Transit Lost & Found. Items are held at least 3 months; the central office is by appointment only, after they contact you.
Yellow/green cab, Uber or Lyft
For taxis, report to 311 with the medallion number from your receipt. No receipt? A card statement often shows it (e.g. “NYCTAXI AB123”). For Uber/Lyft, use the in-app lost-item flow.
Handed to the police (NYPD Property Clerk)
Found valuables are often vouchered by the NYPD Property Clerk in the borough where they were turned in. Bring ID. Important: for non-evidence property, claim it within 120 days or it may be disposed of.
JFK, LaGuardia or Newark
Lost it at security? Contact TSA for that airport. On the plane or at the gate? Contact your airline. Elsewhere in the terminal, the Port Authority lost & found handles it.
Street, park, shop or venue
Ask the venue’s front desk or security first (museums, malls, stadiums and hotels keep their own lost & found). For items lost on the street, the nearest NYPD precinct is best — and a public alert on local groups raises the odds an honest finder reaches you.
Lost pet (dog, cat, other)
File a lost-pet report with Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) and search their found database daily. It links to Petco Love Lost, which uses facial recognition. Any shelter or vet scans for a microchip, so keep your details current.
Don't wait — the first 48 hours matter most
Lost & found offices clear items on strict deadlines. Get in the system now.
Report my lost item →Lost something in a specific NYC neighborhood?
New York City spans five boroughs and hundreds of neighborhoods. Pick the area closest to where you lost your item — each has its own transit hubs, precincts and hotspots.
Manhattan
Midtown, Times Square, the Financial District, SoHo, Greenwich Village, the Upper East & West Sides, Harlem and Chelsea. Highest density of taxis, subway lines and tourist sites — and the most lost phones and wallets.
Brooklyn
Williamsburg, DUMBO, Park Slope, Bushwick and Downtown Brooklyn. Busy nightlife and transit hubs like Atlantic Terminal mean plenty of items left on trains and in bars.
Queens
Astoria, Long Island City, Flushing and Jamaica — plus both JFK and LaGuardia airports, so a large share of luggage and travel-document losses happen here.
The Bronx
Yankee Stadium, the Bronx Zoo, Fordham and the Grand Concourse. Event days and the 4/B/D lines are common spots for misplaced belongings.
Staten Island
The Staten Island Ferry and the SIR railway. Items lost on the ferry or railway go through the MTA / Staten Island Railway lost & found.
Amplify your report on New York’s social channels
Most items come back through a person, not an office. We help you create a clean, shareable post and point you to the most active NYC communities:
“NYC Lost & Found”, borough & neighborhood groups
r/nyc, r/AskNYC, borough subreddits
Your exact neighborhood — great for pets
Tag the subway line, station or venue
Local lost-pet & community pages
Universities, coworking, residential
New York lost & found — frequently asked questions
How do I report something lost on the NYC subway?
Tell the nearest station booth agent, then file a claim with NYC Transit Lost & Found online at lostandfound.mta.info or by calling 511. Items are held for at least three months.
I left something in a New York taxi — what now?
Call 311 with the medallion number from your receipt. If you paid by card, your bank statement often shows the medallion number. For Uber or Lyft, use the in-app 'I lost an item' flow to contact the driver.
How long does the NYPD hold found property?
It depends on the value, but for non-evidence property you should claim it within 120 days of it being vouchered by the Property Clerk, or it may be disposed of.
My pet is lost in New York City — where do I start?
File a lost-pet report with Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC), search their found database daily, and use the linked Petco Love Lost facial-recognition search. Make sure your microchip contact details are up to date.
Is ReportLost.org official or does it replace the police?
No. ReportLost.org is an independent service that helps you report to the right official channels faster and amplify your search across local social communities. The official lost-and-found offices retain and release the items.
Lost & found in nearby areas
Ready to get your item back?
One report. Every relevant channel in New York City.
Start my report →ReportLost.org is an independent service and is not affiliated with the MTA, NYPD, TLC, the Port Authority or the City of New York. Official lost-and-found offices retain and release found property.