This List of Things Lost on Prague Public Transport Is Awesome

What happens if you leave your bag, book, or oboe on a Prague metro, tram, or bus?

The Prague Public Transport Company (DPP) has just released a list of the more unusual things that have turned up in its lost and found department in 2016, as well as some practical information on what to do if you lose, or find, something.

According to DPP, last year a total of 5,601 lost items were turned in; of those only 2,170 items were returned to their owner, a recovery rate of about 40%. 

In addition to the strange things left behind on mass transport, 998 personal documents (IDs, passports, etc.) were counted among the total losses. In the past four years the number of lost items has more than doubled.

What is being left behind? Virtually anything you can think of, say DPP representatives including, last year, a stroller containing both a child and a cat in its carrier.

These are some of the more unusual items recovered by DPP in 2016:

What should you do if you leave something on public transport?

If you realize it immediately, call the information line (tel. 296 19 18 17) where, after obtaining detailed information, operators in the dispatch center will contact the driver of that specific line. 

If your item is recovered, you will be contacted as to where and when you can claim your belongings.

When you realize only later that you have left something behind, the Lost and Found Office on Karolíny Světlé 5 is the place to go (tel. 224 235 085). 

Opening hours are: Mon-Wed 8:00a.m.-5:30p.m., Tues. and Thurs. 8:00a.m.-4:00p.m., Fri 8:00a.m.-2:00 p.m. (closed for lunch from 12:00-12:30).

For passports, health insurance cards, credit cards, and other items that require proof of ownership, head to the central administrative offices (Sokolovská 217, Prague 9).

What should you do if you find a lost item? Hand it over to the driver directly; he or she will get it to the DPP offices.

And what about kids and cats? A DPP representative tells us to contact the police immediately who will then call dispatch operators.