MIT has put the power of the Internet behind its Lost and Found, giving community members a chance to report lost property online and also view a list of items turned in to MIT Police.
Sergeant Cheryl Vossmer said the posting of lost and found data at web.mit.edu/cp/www/lost_found.htm has helped the process of returning items to their rightful owners. But several valuable items--including at least five Brass Rats--are still waiting to be claimed, she said.
The central Lost and Found is located at MIT Police Headquarters, Building W89, 301 Vassar St. Found items can be delivered to MIT Police Headquarters or to one of the police substations located in the basement of the Stata Center, Building 32-070-C, or the Student Center, W20-020C, between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Community members who are unable to deliver items to any of these locations should call the MIT Police at 617-253-9753 and notify the officer to have the item picked up.
Anyone claiming lost and found property at the MIT Police must show positive identification such as an MIT ID card or a driver's license.
Found items are held for a minimum of 30 days; if unclaimed, they are eventually donated to a charitable organization.
A version of this article appeared in MIT Tech Talk on March 19, 2008 (download PDF).
