MTA's poor track record of returning 'lost' items to subway, bus riders revealed after undercover probe: 'Considerable concern'

Good luck if you lose a valuable possession on an MTA subway or bus.

The MTA inspector general’s office did an undercover field study, where it turned over 24 “lost’ items to transit workers in early 2024 — and was only able to retrieve one of them months later.

“The fact that many of OIG’s ‘found’ items did not reach the LPU [Lost and Found Property Unit] suggests that employees at stations or other NYC Transit facilities may be discarding lost property or retaining it for their own use,” the audit released Thursday by MTA IG Daniel Cort’s office said. 3

Meanwhile, a separate Long Island Road test found the IG could only retrieve 47% of 19 lost possessions handed over to LIRR employees .

“Our field tests revealed clear lapses in these lost-and-found systems, particularly at N