Dopey Islanders have lost nearly 2,000 items in a year

Wednesday 21 September 2016

Have you misplaced your musical instrument? Or searched for your store cards? Or even forgotten your favourite power tool?

If so, you should head down to Rouge Bouillon as the lost property department at Jersey Police is bulging at the seams.

Exactly 1,992 items were handed in last year, with only 1,704 returned to their rightful owner. 

The list of lost property items included keys, cycles, passports, bank cards, driver’s licences, store cards, social security cards, cash, clothing, jewellery, watches, power tools, electrical goods and even musical instruments.    

A Freedom of Information request revealed that items are kept at the police station for up to three months before they are either disposed of, or sold at auction, and last year lost property raised £532.77. 

A number of smart phones, laptops and tablets were among the items not claimed and these were destroyed as they contain personal information of the original owner. 

All the other items are handed in to local charities and either sold or auctioned.