News Tokyo police to introduce 24-hour lost and found lockers

The Tokyo police are set to launch round-the-clock lost and found lockers by this summer, aiming to simplify the process for people to retrieve their lost items and to alleviate the burden on staff managing these recoveries. This initiative is in response to the significant number of lost property reports—over 4 million last year—as Tokyo's pedestrian activity resumed to levels seen before the pandemic following the reclassification of COVID-19 as a seasonal flu. The Metropolitan Police Department's Lost and Found Center in Bunkyo Ward typically stores about 900,000 unclaimed objects, including luggage and walking aids to a naginata, a traditional Japanese weapon resembling a spear. Lost items from trains and stations are organized in bags colour-coded for each railway company.

Most of the umbrellas are of a commonly available plastic variety, with only about 1 percent of them being reclaimed by their owners. The police department handled a record 4,152,000 cases of lost property in 2019. Although they fell to around 2.8 million between 2020 and 2021 following the outbreak of the pandemic, cases rebounded to reach their third-highest figure ever last year. The most commonly lost property in recent years includes identification documents such as driver's licenses, as well as items like IC chip-equipped train passes. Electronic products are notably on the rise, with items such as wireless earphones, portable mini-fans and heated tobacco devices making their way to the center.

Click to expand...

Lost property is usually kept at police stations for a certain period before being sent to the Lost and Found Center. However, items can only be retrieved on weekdays, which can be inconvenient for people working regular office hours. Lines are sometimes seen forming outside the facility. The lockers will be installed outside the centre entrance, making it accessible even when reception is closed at night and on non-business days. Owners can reserve a locker online and access them with a QR code to reclaim their items.