Lost & Found Services in Texas

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

Most Populated Cities in Texas

Houston

Dallas

San Antonio

Austin

Fort Worth

El Paso

How Lost & Found Works in Texas

Texas is unusual: unlike California, New York or Florida, it has no dedicated state statute for lost property. What happens to your item is governed by common law principles, the general theft statute, and above all by the policies of each police department, sheriff's office and venue.

Texas has no single statewide deadline for every lost item. The applicable retention policy depends on the department, venue or business holding the property. 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 Texas

Common law: the owner always wins

Under the common law applied in Texas, a finder has a claim to a found item against everyone except the true owner. The moment you come forward and prove ownership, your right beats the finder's, whether the item sits with a person, a business or a police property room. Your report and your proof of ownership are what activate that right.

Keeping a find can be theft (Penal Code §31.03)

Texas prosecutes appropriation of property with intent to deprive the owner under its general theft statute. A finder who keeps an item while having a reasonable way to identify the owner (an ID in a wallet, an engraving, a registered serial number) takes a real legal risk, with penalties scaling with the item's value.

Every department sets its own rules

With no statewide lost property statute, each police department and venue defines how long found items are held and how claims work; many follow a roughly 90-day practice, others differ. Mislaid items (left on a counter or a table) typically stay with the business where they were forgotten. Knowing exactly which desk to contact in your city is half the battle.

Where items end up in Texas

Found items land in city police or county sheriff property rooms, each with its own procedures, and in venue desks: DFW, IAH, AUS and the state's other airports, transit agencies (DART, METRO), stadiums, hotels and malls, plus city animal services for 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 Texas?

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 →

Texas Lost & Found FAQ

How long do Texas police keep found property?

There is no statewide legal deadline: each department sets its own retention policy, commonly around 90 days. Procedures vary by city; confirm the current filing process and claim dates with the relevant department.

Is it finders keepers in Texas?

No. A finder only has a claim against everyone except you: if you come forward and prove ownership, the item is yours. And a finder who keeps an item while able to identify the owner risks theft charges under Penal Code 31.03.

I left my item at a restaurant or store, who holds it?

Items forgotten at a business (mislaid property) typically stay with that business, which is why our outreach contacts the exact places you visited, not just the police.

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 Texas?

No. Offering a reward is your choice, never a legal obligation.

This page provides general information about Texas 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 Texas

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