Lost and found, located on all five campuses, contains many things, ranging from laptops and IDs to keys and jewelry and even steering wheels, dead fish and teeth.

Students may go to the business services office and ask about their belongings, or they may email their campus’ business services office.

In some cases, when the department knows the owners, someone may try to contact owners through their TCC email or the phone number TCC has on file.

“It is very important to update your phone number that is on file and to constantly check your TCC email,” said Tamika Stevenson, a TR business services employee.

Stevenson also suggested students put their names on their files and belongings “just in case they ever get lost — that way, we know who to give it back to.”

Police officers usually bring items to lost and found. Sometimes teachers, staff members and students bring items they had found.

“One of the problems we have is that people don’t bring stuff until six months later,” said Karen Shelton, NE business services manager.

“Then people are not looking for them anymore.”

Shelton encouraged students to bring items they find to lost and found immediately.

“Items that stay in the lost and found department for more than a semester are discarded through a process that comes from [TCC policy],” Stevenson said.

Students should check more than once for their lost items.

Otherwise, Shelton said, “We send the stuff to the inventory, and they donate it, and it gets folded into the surplus process.”

— Linah Mohammad