Found not stolen – watch out for new limits for loss!

We are more and more distracted and less and less concentrated – in such circumstances it is easy to lose both small and valuable things.

The changes introduced in the Law by the Ministry of Justice are to increase the chance of finding them and in a more convenient way than before.

Longer deadline for finding loss

12,367 documents and nearly 4,700 other items were collected in the Warsaw office of things found in 2024. Among them were wallets, money, telephones, watches, tablets, laptops, e-book readers, bikes and cameras. Unusual loss included: foot massager, tent, carpet, clarinet, violin, guitar, microphone, dance bar, rescue backpack, electronic ring and even a drone.

It was no different on trains. Last year, PKP Intercity passengers lost a total of 25,675 items of different values. This is an increase of over 12.5 thousand compared to 2023. The most commonly left in things are clothes, suitcases, backpacks, electronic equipment and bags. There are also less typical loss: coffee maker, prams and even … safe.

The project of new regulations prepared by the Ministry of Justice, on the one hand, extends the deadline for finding loss, on the other – shortens the deadline for compulsory storage, which rests with the starosty. The office also dealt with the limit of the value of lost items.

Higher limits of values for things that you do not need to report

The limit of the values of small items (e.g. hat, umbrella) and the amount of money found that you do not need to give the starosta increased to about PLN 230. The date of receipt of the item lost in a public building from three to 30 days was also extended. Only after a month, the building manager will be obliged to transfer the loss of the competent starost.

And here also the change – the law provided for by law on the found things will be conducted by the staroste competent according to the place of finding things, and not so far competent for the place of residence of the finder.

Military equipment and military documents were required to the catalog of entities that the finder is obliged to. The procedure for safe behavior with things dangerous to life and health or requiring permission: weapons, ammunition, explosives and chemicals is also changing. The ministry introduced the obligation to notify the police about the place where the thing is located.

Announcements informing about finding an item will only be published in BIP up to 6 months. There will be no such ads in the press.