SAINT PAUL, Minn. — At the airport, travelers fear losing their luggage, keys, or really anything during the hustle and bustle.
Fortunately, the MSP airport has a team dedicated to just that. The MSP Lost and Found office is on the valet level of Terminal 1.
Lost and Found clerk Nancy Fortier says staff go above and beyond to ensure the lost gets found.
"It's an emotional place to work because people are panicking. I think we can all relate to that," she said.
Airport leaders say about 1,500 items are returned to this space every month. The items come from TSA security checkpoints, airport police or other passengers turning them in.
Fortier says they receive a lot of driver's licenses, credit cards, glasses and clothes.
"It's interesting the amount of luggage that comes in, [too]. You have to wonder, 'How did the person leave that bag?'" said Fortier.
Once the team gets an item, they log it into their database, and then it moves to the inventory area. The team says they've had success getting items back to travelers.
"About 40% of items are actually returned, " said Phil Burke, assistant director for customer experience at the Metropolitan Airports Commission. "I wish people would always reclaim their items, but sometimes it's a lower value item, and they just move on with life."
Because this team is so dedicated to the cause, they go the extra mile anyway.
Recently, a class ring from the U.S. Naval Academy's class of 1977 turned up at the office. One of the clerks saw a faded name on it and reached out to the class Facebook page.
The ring belonged to a classmate who passed away in 2022. Because of the lost and found team, the ring is back with the deceased classmate's daughter, who lost it as she passed through MSP.
"It's very rewarding, I think, for everyone that works here," said Fortier.
The team says the quickest way to get your things back is to put identification on it, like your name or phone number.
You should also file a lost and found report with MSP to get an instant email when the property is matched.
The office is open seven days a week. After 30 days, items go to charity.
WATCH MORE ON KARE 11+
Download the free KARE 11+ app for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV and other smart TV platforms to watch more from KARE 11 anytime! The KARE 11+ app includes live streams of all of KARE 11's newscasts. You'll also find on-demand replays of newscasts; the latest from KARE 11 Investigates, Breaking the News and the Land of 10,000 Stories; exclusive programs like Verify and HeartThreads; and Minnesota sports talk from our partners at Locked On Minnesota.
- Add KARE 11+ on Roku here or by searching for KARE 11 in the Roku Channel Store.
- Add KARE 11+ on Fire TV here or by searching for KARE 11 in the Amazon App Store.
- Learn more about the KARE 11+ app for Apple TV in the Apple App Store.
- Learn more about KARE 11+ here.
Watch more local news:
Watch the latest local news from the Twin Cities and across Minnesota in our YouTube playlist: