Ick! Sorry, that stinks. We know the feeling.
Before you start beating yourself up (the most common response to a lost item), give yourself some props: you had the foresight to tag your stuff with Found ID which will improve your odds of getting it back.
Here are some tips on how to increase your odds of recovery even more:
Yes, you have a Found ID on your item, but you can still take some steps yourself to get the item back! Retrace your day, call recent locations you visited, send a note out to friends, co-workers, etc. The more visible you make your situation, the more eagle eyes you'll have on the lookout.
Sometimes people will return an item to a lost and found and hope the managers will contact you with your Found ID. And sometimes those managers are swamped. It may take them some time to report it. (In an extreme case during one of our tests it actually took 6 months for someone to report a lost iPod in the lost and found. We got it back eventually, but that was a long wait!) In that case, Found ID can serve as an important verifying characteristic on your item that proves to the manager that you are indeed the owner AND get them to check for the item sooner rather than later.
Let the gratitude flow! When someone does the right thing, it's a cause for celebration. While it is totally up to you whether or not you want to provide any sort of reward, a big smile and thank you always go a long way.
Make sure you’re thinking about your safety.
Be an awesome Finder yourself. Things come full circle. People learn by example. Help us build the Found ID community by reporting items you find quickly and showing people how easy it is to do a little good.
Take a breath and remember: it happens to EVERYONE. Everyone loses stuff. Seriously. Everyone. And if you've taken the steps above, you're doing everything you can to help get your things back. (Don't forget to breathe out now.)
