For most Canadians, travel was pretty restricted the past 12 months. And during that time, Uber focused on helping frontline workers get to and from home, and provide travel options for essential trips. As recovery efforts continue across Canada, and as Mercury falls back into retrograde (which astrologists say influences forgetfulness), Uber is releasing the fifth annual Lost & Found Index.

The annual Uber Lost & Found Index provides a snapshot of riders’ most commonly forgotten items and the most unique lost items. This year, riders have most frequently forgotten phones, headphones, wallets, and keys. But as always, riders aren’t only leaving the usuals behind. We’ve seen folks forget a framed diploma, a retainer with a tooth attached, and black and purple juggling balls— just to name a few. 

Because this year was different, there were a few trends that mark the moment:

  • Safety first: We’ve been clear that at Uber, safety is a top priority. And riders don’t leave the house without their gear. Over the last year, folks have forgotten everything from a face shield, to paper towels, to hand sanitizer
  • Sports Swag: It might have been the shortened sports seasons, but riders were repping (and forgetting) their favourite teams. Jerseys, backpacks and caps from Toronto, Montreal and New York were the most popular items left behind.
  • Only the essentials: Canadians leveraged Uber to take essential trips to the grocery store over the past year, and may have missed an item or two in a backseat or trunk. Popular items left behind included milk, mayonnaise, canned tomatoes, eggs, fish, and meat

“Throughout the pandemic, Uber has focused on helping Canadians move what matters—from frontline workers getting to and from shifts, to providing a way to pick up groceries or other much-needed items. We’re happy to do our small part to make travel easier and more convenient, which includes supporting the return of those important items left behind.” – Matthew Price, General Manager, Uber Canada

The full results are below – take a look, they may surprise you!

The 10 Most Commonly Forgotten Items:

  1. Phone / camera
  2. Wallet / purse
  3. Backpack / bag / box / luggage
  4. Keys
  5. Headphones / speaker
  6. Glasses
  7. Clothing
  8. Vape / e-cig
  9. Jewellery / watch / makeup
  10. Water bottle

The 10 Most “Forgetful” Cities:

  1. Gatineau
  2. Halifax
  3. Winnipeg
  4. Windsor
  5. Vancouver
  6. Hamilton
  7. Saskatoon
  8. Edmonton
  9. Calgary
  10. Niagara Region

The 20 Most Unique Lost Items

  1. 8 fishing rods from Canadian Tire
  2. Paint thinner
  3. Tent
  4. Balloon pump
  5. Massager
  6. Fake bloody machete
  7. Microwave
  8. Vinyl record
  9. Fish
  10. Black and purple juggling balls
  11. Rolex
  12. Black corset
  13. A framed diploma
  14. OVO Chain
  15. Retainer with a tooth attached to it
  16. Mallet for a gong (large fuzzy end on a black stick)
  17. Eyelash adhesive
  18. Bunny tail
  19. Sparkling wand
  20. Poutine

Most Forgetful Days / Times:

  • As we’ve seen consistently across the world, riders are most forgetful on Fridays and Saturdays, and late at night. 
  • People are most forgetful at 8pm, 11pm, and midnight—reporting the most items left behind at those times.

If you’re one of those people who left something behind, look no further than this video, which outlines the simple steps you can take the next time you leave something behind in your car. 

The best way to retrieve a lost item is to call the driver – but if you leave your phone itself in a car, you can login to your account on a computer. Here’s what to do:

  1. Tap “Your Trips” and select the trip where you left something
  2. Scroll down and tap “Find lost item”
  3. Tap “Contact driver about a lost item”
  4. Scroll down and enter the phone number you would like to be contacted at. Tap submit.
  5. If you lost your personal phone, enter a friend’s phone number instead (you can do this by logging into your account on a computer, or using a friend’s phone).
  6. Your phone will ring and connect you directly with your driver’s mobile number.
  7. If your driver picks up and confirms that your item has been found, coordinate a mutually convenient time and place to meet for its return to you.
  8. If your driver doesn’t pick up, leave a detailed voicemail describing your item and the best way to contact you.