Items found at the Larrick Student Center are stored at the Recreational Sports front desk.

The Code of Virginia § 23.1-104 (Disposition of lost or abandoned property) requires that most items accepted into the university’s lost and found be kept for a minimum of 120 (4 months) days if not claimed unless otherwise specified below. After 120 days (4 months) have elapsed, the items go to VCU’s Surplus Property Department.

Upon arrival, all items are inventoried and logged into the applicable department’s Crowdfind database, which will list the date the item was turned in to the location, a brief description of the item, where the item was found, tagged with the appropriate reference number, photographed, and placed in a secure location. 

Note: To protect Personally Identifiable Information, lost and found items that contain personal identification (driver’s licenses, U.S. passports, ID cards, etc.) will not have a photo posted to the Crowdfind database.

The physical lost and found inventory cannot be searched by anyone under any circumstances. Individuals may view the log of lost and found items at any time in the Crowdfind electronic database. Individuals must first provide an adequate description of the property and submit the completed claim form through the Crowdfind system before the physical item is shown to the claimant. Items found at Hunton Student Center are stored at The Commons.

Individuals who have lost an item that is not listed in the facility’s inventory may file a claim through the Crowdfind system.

Staff will contact the claimant within two (2) business days of the Crowdfind claim submission to update the claimant on the status of the lost property. Individuals claiming an item in the Crowdfind database must complete the online claim form associated with the identified item by clicking on “details” under the item’s image and answering the required questions. 

To attempt to ensure that lost items are returned to the rightful owners, persons claiming items must describe the item(s) as closely as possible and provide photo identification that matches the information filled out on the claim form submission. Items will not be shown to claimants until an adequate item description is provided. 

A staff member will send a follow-up message to indicate a “match,” ask for additional information, or reject your claim if insufficient information is provided.  Claims that remain without a “match” will be filed as “unmatched” and revisited after 30 days have elapsed. If the claim remains “unmatched” after 30 days, the claim will be rejected and archived in the Crowdfind system. 

Once an item “match” is made, claimants may pick up their item(s) at The Commons Information Center on weekdays (Monday to Friday) between 9 am and 5 pm. The claimant’s contact information must be logged before any item(s) will be released.

Items, such as wallets, (containing cash, bank cards, identification cards, passports, etc.) must be logged by the staff member recipient. A second staff member must then verify the accuracy of the logged information. Following verification, the staff member on-duty will give the item to a professional staff member.

Items turned in must be logged into the Crowdfind system and tagged with the appropriate reference number, the date, location of where the item was found, and the staff member who logged the item. If an item with significant value is found in The Commons or Hunton, the item will automatically be sent to the VCU Police Dept.

These items include computers, phones, tablets, and other high-value electronics, weapons, prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, or other controlled substances, bicycles, jewelry (not including costume jewelry).

Some items will not be stored by Lost and Found. These items will be disposed of upon receiving. This includes: 

• Wet or soiled clothing or undergarments
• Alcohol, tobacco, e-cigarettes, etc.of any kind
• Food items
• Toiletries or powders
• Anything received that could cause potential harm or pose a health risk to staff members and/or property

Water bottles will be archived from inventory on the 15th and 30th of every month and sent to Surplus.

If a VCU ID is found in The Commons or Hunton, the ID will be sent to the VCU Card Office after seven calendar days.