The University Police Department is the primary lost and found location for Montana State University Billings. Found property will be stored for at least 90 days before disposal. Disposal methods may include donation to a local charity (or in the case of US currency, donation to the MSU Billings Foundation), recycling, destroying, or sale at public auction via the site.

Report a Missing Item

You can report a missing item to the University Police Department by calling 406-657-2147 during regular business hours, Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Please be prepared to provide a description of the item, the date you lost it (an estimation is fine), your name and phone number, and the location where you believe you last had your item.

Claiming a Found Item

In order to collect a found item, please bring a government-issued photo ID to the University Police Department and be prepared to provide a detailed description of the item you are retrieving. If you are claiming items seized in a police investigation, contact the Billings Police Evidence Building at 406-237-6192.

Accepted Items

The University Police Department accepts clean, dry, non-perishable items. Food, soiled or odorous clothing, and miscellanous loose papers will be discarded. Food storage containers, such as water bottles, are accepted on a case-by-case basis. Any container with spoiled or moldy contents will be disposed of immediately. Any items valued at $20 or greater will be held for a minimum of 90 days. More information can be found on MSU Billings University Police Found Property Policy.

Tips

Keys, textbooks, and electronics are commonly turned in and determining the owner often proves difficult. Your keys may be easier to identify if they are on a lanyard or have a distinctive keychain attached. Consider using a textbook cover or writing your name and contact information in the front cover of your school materials. One of the biggest barriers to returning cell phones and laptops is the lock function. You may wish to set up your laptop's lock screen to include a phone number to call if found. Set up your phone's emergency contacts so that they can be accessed even when the phone is locked. If your phone has a "find my phone feature," learn how to activate it as this function likely needs to be set up while the phone is in your possession.