Found Something?  Prompt Action Helps Reunite Lost Items with Their Owners

Colors, logos, stickers, straw toppers and even dings distinguish one reusable bottle from the next. Whether prized or pricey, lost coffee and water bottles are one of the most commonly unclaimed items that are turned over to UT Police.

To locate any lost item – including bottles – individuals can search UT Police’s web-based lost and found items database that plays a key role in supporting campus safety and accountability.

Getting an item into that list relies on prompt action from those that find the items.

“One of the biggest challenges we face is delay,” said Evidence Coordinator Maria Valdez. “Too often, items are held in drawers or ‘safe places’ for weeks before anyone contacts us. By then, the owner may have stopped looking or assumed the item is gone for good. That kind of delay makes it much harder for us to reunite people with their property.”

The database is designed to catalog lost items from across campus. Whether it is a jacket left behind in a lecture hall or a cell phone found near a shuttle stop, every item turned in is recorded and handled according to established protocols. Items are retained for up to 90 days, providing community members a generous window to reclaim their belongings.

Currently, only about one-third of found items are successfully returned—a statistic UT Police is working to improve.

“The most important step is reporting and transferring found items promptly,” Valdez said. “This system functions effectively only when the entire campus community participates.”

How to turn in a found item

Community members are encouraged to contact the Risk Operations Center (ROC) at 713-792-2890 to request a Public Safety Officer (PSO) for item retrieval.

With timely reporting and accurate contact details, recovering the items may be possible.

When you find an item on campus

• Do not retain it, even if you believe you know the owner.
• Contact the ROC right away for PSO pickup.
• Allow UT Police to log the item, maintain chain of custody, and manage it.

This process not only demonstrates courtesy but also fulfills legal and institutional responsibilities—especially for items containing personal data, such as IDs, electronics, or wallets.

Found property is stored in accordance with established policies

Items containing personal information, medications, knives, or toiletries are stored for 90 days at UT Police Headquarters, after which they are destroyed.

Other items, including clothing, books, and electronics, are held for 30 days at UT Police Headquarters. Unclaimed items are then transferred to the Pawnee Warehouse for an additional 60 days. After the full 90-day period, items are disposed of by auction, sale, or destruction.

A commitment to integrity

UT Police remains committed to improving item return rates and reinforcing a culture of shared responsibility. For more information, contact UT Police or visit the Found Property page on the UT Police website.