NEW YORK — With hundreds of thousands of people rushing through the marble halls of Grand Central Terminal daily, it’s no wonder the historic transportation hub’s Lost and Found is perpetually busy. “People are always losing things,” Rick Jenkins, a lost and found attendant, told ABC’s Localish. “You nod off on the train, wake up at your stop, jump up, and realize you’ve left your jacket or wallet behind. It happens all year long, every day.”
The Grand Central Lost and Found takes in around 25,000 items annually, returning approximately 9,000 to 10,000 to their owners. Five dedicated employees sort through the daily influx of lost belongings. These forgotten items include coats, jewelry, smartphones, and an overwhelming number of Apple AirPods.
But interspersed among the commonplace are bizarre and unsettling discoveries. These have included urns containing ashes and, on one memorable occasion, a prosthetic leg.
The Lost and Found also witnesses a wide range of human emotions. “We have people cry at the window, scream at us, and even punch the glass,” Jenkins shared. “For some, losing their wallet or phone is devastating; returning these items can be a truly significant event.”
Executive producer: Rolando Pujol