Report lost property and make a request

If you have found or lost something, for example an ID card, keys, rucksack or valuables, you can report this to the relevant lost and found office.

Have you found a valuable item? Then hand it in to the lost and found office and file a lost property report there.

If you have found or lost something, for example an ID card, keys, rucksack or valuables, you can report this to the relevant lost and found office.

You are obliged to report a lost property with a value of more than 10.00 euros. The report must be made immediately, i.e. as soon as possible. The report of a found or lost item includes details of the place and time of the find or loss as well as a description of the found or lost item that is as precise as possible.

If you have lost something or are looking for something, you should provide your contact details so that you can be notified if necessary. As the finder, under certain circumstances you are entitled to the found item (acquisition of ownership) or a finder's fee or compensation for expenses.

In the event of loss, you can obtain a certificate of loss for insurance purposes from the lost and found office.

The lost and found office is obliged to keep lost property for at least 6 months.

Animals are also considered lost property. If you have found an animal, you should contact the lost and found office and report the find there. In consultation with the lost and found office, you can also hand over the animal there if necessary. It will then usually be taken to an animal shelter for further care.

Tip: If you lose items in vehicles or facilities belonging to transport companies, please contact the relevant passenger service directly.

If you have found a valuable item (i.e. with a value of more than 10.00 euros), you must hand it in. A lost property report will be recorded. Among other things, the lost property, the place and time it was found and your personal details will be recorded.

Storage and auction:

The lost and found office is obliged to keep lost property for at least six months. If the owner does not get in touch within this period, you as the finder are entitled to the item found. If you do not exercise this right or if the lost property is found in public buildings or on public transport, the city or municipality itself becomes the owner of the items.

These lost property items are then auctioned off publicly at longer intervals after prior announcement by the lost and found office. The proceeds from the auction go to the municipality's budget.

Contact the lost and found office in your municipality or city.

In urgent cases, especially outside opening hours, the police will also accept lost property and forward it to the lost and found office.

• Lost or found report
• If necessary, further evidence, for example
  • identity card
  • duplicate key
  • IMEI number for smartphones and laptops

Your contact person at the lost and found office will tell you which documents must be enclosed for further processing.

• When issuing certificates in the event of an insurance claim: insurance form, if applicable
• Confirmation of the theft report from the police, if applicable

• You have found something that does not belong to you and has a value of more than EUR 10.00.
• You are missing something and can no longer find it.

not applicable

You can report a lost or found item to the lost and found office:

• You can submit the report online, in paper form or in person at the relevant lost and found office.
• You should provide as much detail as possible about the place and time as well as a description of the lost or found item.
• In any case, you should leave your contact details with the lost and found office so that you can be notified if the item is found. However, you are not obliged to do so.
• Lost property will be kept for you for at least 6 months and then disposed of.

Note: Some towns and municipalities use an online service for reporting lost property.

• Notification: immediately (if possible within 2 weeks)
• Retention period for lost property: 6 months from the date of the lost property report

Note: Food and luxury foods, medicines and chemicals will be disposed of immediately.

a few hours to 2 days

• none
• Administrative fee in varying amounts, if applicable

Fee free of charge

The text was automatically translated based on the German content.