Former police Officer Shawn Tierney was frustrated when working the streets and finding lost property with no information about the owner.
The found property, which could have been stolen and then discarded, included bicycles, sets of keys, backpacks, pieces of jewelry, cellphones, sunglasses and even construction equipment.
Property that ends up in police departmentsβ evidence sections could remain there unclaimed for months sitting on a shelf βlike pieces in a Costco aisle,β said Tierney, 50.
The 20-year law enforcement veteran, who began his career working for the South Tucson Police Department and then moved to the Renton Police Department in Washington, came up with Foundrop, a property tracking recovery software system to help get items back to their owners.
The Tucson Police Department purchased the system for $299 a month and hopes it can clear items from its evidence building that holds 650,000 items. About 5 percent are found items by police, or are turned in by the public that are not connected to any case, said Nancy McKay-Hills, evidence superintendent. The items have no serial numbers and have not been reported stolen.
About 100 unclaimed items are destroyed each month, and in instances where items are valuable, such as stamp or coin collections, the property is auctioned and the money goes into the cityβs coffers.
The public can find information and sign into the system for free at www.foundrop.com and also can cancel the service anytime. Users can search Foundrop to see if their items have been found, or if a person finds a lost item they can post it and say that it was turned into Tucson police.
A user needs an email to sign into the system, and then can inventory their property and also input photographs on the foundrop site. The information is private and only trusted groups can see it, Tierney said.
When something goes missing, is lost or stolen, the user flags it and police can see it because it appears in the database. Law enforcement using the system can also spot items through serial numbers that are listed in the system, and can contact the owners. Police also can be notified when a possible match is entered into another agencyβs evidence room.
A quick search of the site Wednesday for βTucsonβ revealed property such as bicycles, computers, cell phones, power and yard tools, keys, TVs and some jewelry that police are trying to locate the owners.
McKay-Hills said the department will spread the word at events such as the Fourth Avenue Winter Street Fair in December. Officers will give information and register people at a booth. Information can also be found at www.tucsonaz.gov/police
The system was developed over three years and in addition to the Tucson Police Department, South Tucson and Washington stateβs Pullman police departments are using the system. Lake Washington Institute of Technology, a community college in Kirkland, east of Seattle, also has purchased the system, said Tierney.
