A set of church keys, a trumpet, and even an insulin pen were among nearly 5,000 lost items successfully returned to their rightful owners, thanks to the success of Southeastern’s new Lost and Found scheme.

With more than 138 million journeys made on Southeastern services last year, it’s perhaps no surprise that 19,381 forgotten items were retrieved from trains and stations. These ranged from the everyday to the downright mystifying—like an antique glass owl.

Thanks to the new system, nearly 25% of lost items were reunited with their owners—a dramatic increase from just 10.4% previously.

Aaron Cox, Southeastern’s lead for lost property, said:  

“This is a brilliant example of how a simple change can make a big difference to our customers. We’ve seen not only a dramatic increase in the number of items returned to their rightful owners, but also a real boost in customer confidence. It’s quicker, more secure, and easier to use.”

The system uses unique QR codes to tag and track lost items. Staff log key details into a secure digital database, which is then automatically matched with information provided by customers through a quick and easy online form.