LOST AND FOUND

It is general practice that any lost property found in rooms should be handed into the housekeeper's office immediately ( or other place according to house custom), and the appropriate details should be entred in a lost property book, after which the articles  should be labelled and will usually be kept for a period of six months.  Great tact should be exercised in dealing with lost property and it is advocated that guests are not notified of articles found in rooms unless they are still in the building.  Precautions need to be taken to ensure that articles are only handed over to the rightful owner and not to any would-be claimant.

Valuables

Hotels have a safe or safe deposit boxes and notices are displayed asking guests not to leave valuables in thier rooms but to have them locked away in the safe.  Should a maid come into an occupied room and find valuables left there, she should inform the housekeeper who will deal with them according to house custom.  It is less likely that guests will leave valuables about when personal safes are rovided in their rooms.

            Many times, the housekeeping department handles the lost and found function.  Lost and found items should be stored in an area that is secure and has limited access.  One employee per shift should be assigned to handle the lost and found as part of his/her job.

            In large hotels, the linen room clerk may handle the lost and found procedures.  In smaller properties, the task may be delegated to the executive housekeeper or front desk personnel.  When an employee finds an item left behind by a guest, he/she should immediately turn it over to the lost and found.  In no instance should lost and found items be left in an unsecured spot such as on top of a room attendant cart.

            Items should be tagged, logged, and secured after they have been turned over to the lost and found.  Tags may be numbered or used to identify the item.  A log should be used to record the date, time, where the item was found, and by whom.  The log should also have space to record if and when the item was recovered by its owner.  Exhibit 7.8 shows a sample lost and found log.

            All lost and found property should be kept for at least 90 days.  If items are not claimed after 90 days, it is upto management to decide how to dispose of the items properly.  Many hotels donate unclaimed lost and found items to local charities.  It is important to ensure that the lost and found policy of the hotel complies with local and state laws.

Sample Lost and Found Log

LOST AND FOUND LOG
Item No (Optional)	Date and Time Found	Description of Article	Area/Room No. Where Found	By Whom Found	How Disposed of (Enter address if mailed)	By Whom	Date