Fundsachen Entgegennahme

If you find a lost item that is worth more than 10 euros, you must report it immediately to the lost and found office in Town Hall 5 on Hinrich-Schmalfeldt-Strasse or to one of the Bremerhaven police stations and hand it in.

Lost and found items turned in are kept for six months.

Lost and found items are:

• Things that have an owner and have been lost.
• Things that have been lost against the will of the owner.
• Stolen things that have been lost or thrown away by a thief.

Lost and found items are not:

• deposited,
• deposited or
• disposed of.

Animals that have been lost by their owner must also be turned in. The responsible office is the animal shelter at Vieländer Weg 137, Tel.: 0471/83257.

No lost and found animals are:

• Wild animals
• abandoned animals.

The handling of lost property is regulated by the lost property law. Information on the legal background can be found in the German Civil Code (BGB) in sections 959, 965 to 984. The enforcement of the private lost property law is not the responsibility of the Citizens' and Public Order Office.

Finders are entitled to a finder's fee and the return of the lost property if it is not collected by the owner within 6 months. In the case of return to the finder, an administrative fee is due. Both claims must be made when the lost property is handed in. The legal finder's fee is 5 percent for an estimated value of the item of up to 500 euros, 3 percent for an added value of 500 euros and 3 percent for animals.

Exceptions:

Personal documents and keys cannot be released to the finder to protect personal data and privacy. This also applies to cell phones and other local data carriers whose data cannot be deleted by the lost property office.

The following applies to lost property found in public offices or traffic facilities:

• A finder's reward will only be paid out if the value exceeds 50 euros and the acquisition of ownership is excluded.

The following applies to lost property in private business premises:

• The claim to a finder's reward and also the acquisition of ownership are only possible if there is a waiver from the business owner.

Notes for owners

Anyone who has lost an item can either search for it "lost and found online" or ask at the lost and found office during opening hours. Written confirmations for bicycles or other lost property that have not been found are issued during opening hours.

If a lost and found item contains clues to a specific person, notification will be sent immediately from the lost and found office.

To recover a lost item, proof of ownership must be provided. Proofs are for example

• Duplicate keys,
• proof of purchase,
• photographs or
• other means of identification.

Fees or finder's fees may apply upon collection.