The Lost and Found Sale was held on March 19 in the Hoosier Room.

A variety of unclaimed items were for sale, including USB drives, clothing, umbrellas, glasses, jewelry, books, lunch boxes and electronic devices.

This is an event that occurs once per semester, and sale profits go toward aiding students.

“The profits made from these sales go into a fund for student scholarships,” Christine Thompson, IUS Police office services assistant senior, said. “On average, the sales profit is $300 to $500.”

The event attracted both students and faculty members.

“There isn’t much available — people must be pretty careful on this campus,” William Sweigart, associate professor of English, said while laughing. “I’m here for the same reason you would go to a garage sale, I’m just curious.”

Justin Levesque, psychology junior, shopped at the Lost and Found sale for the second time this year.

“I came to see if anything neat is available,” Levesque said.  “Usually, I find one neat thing each time. This time, I got a bracelet and a scarf.”

Thompson and Debra Campbell, IUS Police dispatcher, helped organize the event.

“Debra is a third shift dispatcher,” Thompson said. “Whatever’s turned in, she puts in a box and labels.”

There is a three-month claiming period after the labeled date for items in the lost and found. After three months, these items can be sold.
Thompson discussed some of the more unusual items that have been turned into the lost and found.

“Recently, we had a retainer turned in, and I was like ‘Oh my God, it has food in it.’” Thompson said. “No one ever claimed that one.”

Campbell also talked about her experience with odd items for sale.

“Last time, we had a sale, [and] there was a grill for your teeth,” Campbell said, laughing. “That wasn’t sold either.”

The last Lost and Found Sale was held in September.

Campbell said lost electronics, keys, credit cards and IDs are what people mainly come to the IUS Police Department looking for.

There is a closet in the back of the department for the less sought items, such as clothing, umbrellas and books.

Thompson said the most popular items sold are USB drives, followed by umbrellas and glasses.

“When we first get USB’s turned in, we plug them in and try to find the name of the owner on a paper or document,” Thompson said. “If we find a name, we send them an e-mail to let them know we have it. We try and look for a name on anything turned in, actually.”

All USB drives for sale work and are formatted to ensure no personal information remains on them before being sold. Also, all clothing items are washed before they are sold.

While the IUS Police hosts the event, staff members working in the Police Department are not allowed to make purchases at the event.

“We are in charge of it,” Thompson said. “We don’t want to give people an impression that we go through the lost and found and keep things. Everything must go to others on campus.”

By AMIRA ASAD

Staff

aasad@umail.iu.edu