SINGAPORE: From 1 Jan 2007, all lost and found items in public transport vehicles such as buses, taxis and MRT trains will be handled by their respective operators.

The Land Transport Authority, which has been overseeing the process, says getting transport operators to directly handle lost and found property, will help them be more responsive to customers' needs.

"The weirdest I came across is a set of dentures. And we have some offensive weapons like swords. Dentures have been destroyed because nobody comes to claim it we cannot keep it for too long. And swords have been handed over to the police station to deal with it," said Ong Chai Heng, Deputy Manager, Commuter Services, Land Transport Authority.

The Land Transport Authority says every month, some five to seven hundred items are reported lost and found on public vehicles.

Mobile phones, wallets, watches and cameras are the most common items which public transport companies send to the LTA fortnightly.

Only one in ten of the items would eventually find its way back to the rightful owners.

Last month, for example, LTA received 602 lost items, but only 41 of them were claimed.


"If the item cannot be traced after 3 months it will be auctioned off. The proceeds from auction will go into the Government Consolidated Fund," said Ong.

On average, LTA raises some $10,000 a month from auctioning off unclaimed lost items.

With public transport companies handling their own lost and found items from now on, they could either continue with the practice of auctioning off unclaimed items, or donate the proceeds to charities.

LTA will however continue to handle lost and found items in vehicles belonging to independent transport companies such as tour and school bus operators. - CNA /dt