If you think you’ve ever had a bad case of forgetfulness, this list might make you feel better. A UK bus operator recently unveiled its 2024 round-up of possessions left behind by passengers, and let’s just say… people forget the darndest things.
Brighton & Hove Buses, which serves Sussex, Surrey, and Kent, reported a staggering 13,000 lost items last year. Among the usual suspects were wallets, keys, glasses, and phones—classic essentials that always seem to go missing at the worst times. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Cue the unexpected. Passengers somehow managed to forget much larger—and much stranger—possessions, including a canoe, a wardrobe, and even a refrigerator. Yes, you read that right. These weren’t items mislaid on their way to the bus stop—they were actually left on board! How someone can step off a bus without realizing they’ve left behind a fridge is beyond me.
Other bulky but bizarre items found aboard included a tent, a microwave, a grass trimmer, and an electric oven. It’s as if people are using buses to stage surprise appliance giveaways! Smaller oddities also made the list, including a frying pan, a shoulder massager, a stethoscope (perhaps a forgetful medical professional?), and even a canvas depicting The Ten Commandments. Somewhere, Moses is shaking his head.
But wait, there’s more: a set of false teeth, a purple dumbbell, and an urn containing ashes. Yes, someone actually left their dearly departed behind. Talk about a plot twist!
Let’s not forget the (slightly) more relatable losses—64 people left their passports, while 78 misplaced their canes. Though to be fair, with all the other chaos on this list, those items suddenly seem pretty tame.
Lessons Learned? This bizarre inventory offers a quirky reminder to double-check your belongings when leaving public transit. After all, nobody wants to be the person calling lost and found to ask if they’ve seen your canoe or your grandmother’s ashes.
And on a Totally Unrelated Note… I may or may not have just thought of a great way to get rid of some old appliances. You know, just casually leaving them on a bus might do the trick… 😉
What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever forgotten? Or better yet, what’s the weirdest item you’ve stumbled upon?
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