Uber Technologies Inc. released its 10th annual Lost & Found Index, detailing the most common and strangest items left behind in its vehicles [1].
The report serves as a benchmark for rider behavior and accompanies new app updates designed to streamline the return of forgotten property to owners [5, 8].
According to the data collected over the previous 12 months, New York City was the most forgetful city in the U.S. [1, 8]. Among the top 10 most forgetful cities, Newark, New Jersey, ranked last [3].
While common items like phones and wallets frequently appear, the index highlighted several highly unusual discoveries. Drivers reported finding a 75-gallon fish tank [4] and a package of live butterflies [5] left in their cars. Other bizarre finds included pelvis implants [6], and a shipment of 50 avocados [7].
Uber said the compilation of this index illustrates evolving lost-and-found trends. The company is using these insights to improve the user experience by making it easier for drivers and riders to coordinate the return of items through the application [5, 8].
“New York City was the most forgetful city in the United States”
The recurring nature of this index suggests that Uber is leveraging consumer data to improve operational efficiency. By identifying high-loss urban centers like New York City, the company can better optimize its in-app recovery tools to reduce the friction between drivers and riders during the return process.
