Language/Swedish/Culture/Lost-Property-in-Sweden

Cultural Insight > Lost Property in Sweden

We’ll talk a bit about what to do if you actually lose something, or if something is stolen from you while visiting Sweden. To start with, it's always good to report that you've lost something or something has been stolen from you to the police. That way, the police will know who owns the object you lost if someone finds it and turns it in. If you think you know where you lost your belongings, such as in a cafe or in a store, it's probably easiest to call the actual place and ask them. If you lost or forgot your belongings while travelling on public transportation, you should try to call the company's customer services. Some public transportation companies such as SL, which operates in Stockholm, have their own lost and found, which you can visit or contact by phone. Finally, if you happen to find something that someone else has forgotten or dropped, it's your obligation to return the object to the police or to the owner within fourteen days. If the object is not returned to the police or its owner within fourteen days, and not reported to the police, it's actually considered a felony in Sweden. If you do return the object to the police, and the object happens to be of any value, the owner is obliged to pay you a 10% finder's fee.

Consider exploring these related pages after completing this lesson: Swedish Culture: Traditional Dishes and Dining Customs., Personal Hygiene, Postcards & Åland History.

Other Lessons

• Making Small Talk in Swedish
• Postcards
• Homework Help
• Allowance
• The Weather in Sweden
• Sweden History
• Telling Swedes What you Really Think
• Eating Habits and Food Prices in Sweden
• Fika
• Gossip
• Family Time
• Fast Food
• Commenting on Appearance in Sweden
• Personal Hygiene
• Åland History