Behind the Scenes at Bradley International Airport’s Lost and Found

Connecticut State Trooper Fernando Hernandez has seen a lot of items come through the Lost and Found he oversees at Bradley International Airport lost and found, but none as odd as the box sitting on his desk right now.

Opening the square hinged box for a visitor, Hernandez reveals a complete travel mass kit used for religious services. Complete with holy water, chalice and wafers, the kit is just one of 700 – 800 items turned in to the Lost and Found every year.

Serving as a trooper for almost 30 years, Hernandez has been in charge of the Lost and Found for the last three and a half years. He has seen motorcycle helmets, a wedding dress (which was returned to its owner) and more suitcases than he cares to remember. Read more Bradley Airport lost property

“We hold items for about a year and then they are either sent to auction, donated or thrown away if they don’t have any value.” said Hernandez. He estimates that between 200 -700 items get returned to their owners each year.

Housed in a nondescript, one-story cement block building at the end of a runway along the perimeter of the airport, State Police Troop H headquarters is home to the Lost and Found.

Taking up a small office and locked walk-in closet, items in the Lost and Found are piled on shelves, placed in secure storage lockers, hung in a locker or placed under and on desks.

Connecticut State Trooper Fernando Hernandez has seen a lot of items come through the Lost and Found he oversees at Bradley International Airport, but none as odd as the box sitting on his desk right now.

Opening the square hinged box for a visitor, Hernandez reveals a complete travel mass kit used for religious services. Complete with holy water, chalice and wafers, the kit is just one of 700 – 800 items turned in to the Lost and Found every year.

Serving as a trooper for almost 30 years, Hernandez has been in charge of the Lost and Found for the last three and a half years. He has seen motorcycle helmets, a wedding dress (which was returned to its owner) and more suitcases than he cares to remember.

“We hold items for about a year and then they are either sent to auction, donated or thrown away if they don’t have any value.” said Hernandez. He estimates that between 200 -700 items get returned to their owners each year.

Housed in a nondescript, one-story cement block building at the end of a runway along the perimeter of the airport, State Police Troop H headquarters is home to the Lost and Found.

Taking up a small office and locked walk-in closet, items in the Lost and Found are piled on shelves, placed in secure storage lockers, hung in a locker or placed under and on desks.

Bradley Airport Lost and Found a treasure trove of items

Each item is tagged and logged with the exact date it was turned in, information anyone trying to claim an item would know.

And what about all those suitcases? The ones that don’t get returned move onto a noble second career. They are used as props for training the police dogs used at the airport. read more Bradley Airport lost and found