What happens to lost phones left on buses, trains in Charlotte?

CHARLOTTE — Have you ever left your cellphone on a Charlotte city bus or light rail? You’re not alone.

The Charlotte City Council will now donate it if you didn’t pick it up on time.

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The Charlotte Area Transit System’s policy states the department holds on to all forgotten property for 30 days.

If you don’t pick it up by then, it gets donated.

The council approved the measure Monday night to donate all forgotten cellphones and electronics to the Charitable Recycling Foundation.

CATS estimates 1,000 cell phones and other electronics are left on buses and light rail vehicles each year.

You have 30 days to claim your lost item. If you don't, it gets donated.

Tonight, Charlotte City Council will vote to donate all of the left behind cell phones to the…
— Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) June 23, 2025

The nonprofit wipes the phone data and then donates the phones to law enforcement agencies and victim agencies to give to domestic violence and human trafficking survivors.

CATS estimates 1,000 phones each year are left on buses and light rail vehicles and never claimed.

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