Lost and Found: Chicago Taxi Cabs
Posted on 12. May, 2009 by jenchicago in Uncategorized
Update: After seeing all that people have lost, I decided to add a forum to the site. Click here to post on the Chicago Taxi Cab Lost and Found Forum. Hope y’all find your stuff!
As I got in the cab, I remember thinking “Whoa, these seats are dark. Don’t forget to check to make sure you have it all when you get out.” I was on my way to drop off the black bag (housing the wireless and very expensive microphone and system that a friend let me borrow) and a little gift for the loan. When I arrived at The Joynt, Friday night, I saw some people that I knew standing outside. I excitedly told them “Hi!” as I paid the cab driver. I got out of the cab, went inside and up the stairs. As I started talking to Erich, my mouth dropped open in the realization that I had left the (over a thousand dollar) borrowed mic in the cab. I didn’t get the cab number or even the cab type. I’m not even sure about the color. I thought the cab was white. One of the guys standing outside thought yellow.
I have every reason to believe that the microphone and wireless system will be returned to me and then to its rightful owner, Steve. People are good. Things always work out as they should.
I read once that the only thing missing from any situation is what you (meaning us) are not giving. So, I am looking for what this experience may be trying to teach me. Then, the idea hit me that if there were one centralized place with pictures of most of the cabs in downtown Chicago (with contact information), others could use my research and effort for themselves. Whether they needed to recover their misplaced items, send a nice note to the cab company, or any other reason one might want pictures of Chicago taxis. Feel free to add to the list or suggest taxi cabs that I may have missed.
The main number Chicago Dispatcher: 773.348.8294
Yellow Cab: 312.829.4222 (TAXI CAB)
*Lost and Found is the same location for Yellow, Checker and Blue Diamond
Checker Cab
24/7 Taxi Association: 773. 878. 8294 (TAXI)
Flash Cab 773.561.4444 & Ace Cab 773-381-8000
Globe Taxi Association 773.725.6500 (main)
772.725.6200 x:13 (lost & found)
Choice Taxi Association 773.338.9502
Koam Taxi Association 773.973.3535
American United: 772.248.7600
2353 W Belmont Ave
Chicago Carriage Cab 312.326.2221
City Service Taxi Association 773.907.0909
Harchand S. Dwaliwal Cab 773.759.4563 (sole owner)
Tuscon Cab Company- Update: (8/12/10) this is an individual owner/cab and he has asked that his phone number be removed
Service Taxi 773.262.2163
Ready to post? Feel free to comment below, but it’s much more readable on the forum. Click here to post on the Chicago Taxi Cab Lost and Found Forum
Sorry about your temporary loss, Jenny Girl! I am sure it’ll turn up! Heck…maybe all this happened so that you’ll get in the much deserved lime-light…like that lady that was forced to pay her taxi fare by giving up her ipod with a lot of James Taylor songs on it since she forgot cash…well, the story made national headlines b/c JT himself bought her a new ipod loaded with his songs when he heard about the story
Jen,
I LOVE how you are turning your misfortune into a blessing for others who may find themselves in your situation in the future. One of my favorite sayings is, “God doesn’t waste our pain.” And while “pain” might be a strong word in this instance, none of what you are currently experiencing is being wasted because you are allowing it to be used for good in your life.
I’m praying that God will pour out blessings beyond what you can ask or imagine!
You have been a great help! I have called all of these cab companies for my boyfriend’s lost wallet over the weekend and it certainly helps having a full list in front of you!!! Thank you! I have put a few feelers out there, and hopefully via karma of all the lost items we’ve returned in the past, someone will come through!!! I hope you found what you lost!
I was told it is also possible to call the Chicago Dispatch to dispatch the information to all cabs.
773-348-8294
So glad google led me here. I stupidly left a huge set of keys in the back of a cab, and the only thing I can remember (I think) is that there was some ‘whiteness’ on the cab! Duh, Mike. Anyway, the pics definitely help jog my memory; I felt like I was looking at a lineup in the police station. Perfect! I have a couple of cabs to add to the mix, and I’ll do it if I can get a good pic!
Thank You JenChicago! I hope I find my priceless camera using your info! What a great idea! I had just left a great interview and hopped into a White Cab. Then the recruiter called so I did not even realize it was missing until after I was dropped off. I can’t believe how upset I am and feel so lost, because there are sooo many cab companies out there and the best I can describe is that the cab was white. This research you have done will be a great start! I know I can buy a new camera, my I can’t buy back my pics:-( Good luck to you!
What a fantastic idea, thank you! Your site proved helpful to tracking down the cab company I lost my ID in, still no luck on the ID but without your post I wouldn’t have had a starting place.
God bless you for doing this. thank you.
This is great, thanks a ton
You are such a thoughtful person. This is indeed very helpful. Thank you so much.
P.
This is the best idea ever! Thanks for doing this. I hope I can find my phone now!
Very helpful for a starting place…now if I can count on honest passengers and honest cabbies, maybe I’ll get my wedding band back!
Hello! I lost my black wallet while riding in one of your taxis last night going from wrigleyville to the Ogilvie train station around 930-10 pm last night 6/11. I’m hoping posting this will help!!!
Hi,
I lost my Canon Video Camera on Monday night June 21, 2010.
I took a yellow cab from Midway Airport to Oak Park.
It was between 7 and 8 PM.
The Camera was in a black nylon case with accessories.
The camera memory and extra memory cards contain video of a once in
a lifetime family event.
I am offering a reward of $200 dollars for the return of the camera/Cards.
Thanks
Anthony
How very thoughtful of you to turn your misfortune into an act of kindness. This info was very helpful to me. Lost my camera in a cab and I too did not notice the cab # or name only that it was white. The camera is not of any value but the pics mean alot to me. Thank you.
I REALLY want to thank you for this website as well. It helped me find the cab company i was looking for. I came to Chicago to enjoy a weekend with some friends. Well as it goes, i left my wallet in the taxi. I have alot of things in it, as everyone usually does but the catch with mine is my Father, whom has passed away, left me a couple things to carry with me in my wallet
Very sentimental to me. And i lost it…I have called the cab company thanks to this Very Helpful website and contacted a operator by the #23. He stood amongst everyone and went the extra mile to connect me with an actual persons voicemail instead of transferring me to a voice operated recording. Thank you #23!
Yay! That’s what I like to hear!
On Sunday, July 18 my husband and I took a cab from Lincoln Park (zoo area) to Ontario Street at around 3:00 p.m. He left his good Nikon digital camera in the cab. We do not know the name of the cab or the color. Has anyone found this camera. A reward for it’s return.
I just returned home from a long four days in Chicago. I walked in the door and immediately began to research anything I can on cabs in Chicago. Being the dumb tourist that I was (and I emphasize “was”), I left a bag full of $180 worth of navy piers purchases in the back of what I only remember to be a yellow-colored cab (and the accuracy of it being yellow could be off too). I know that the cabbie’s name was Faraz because I just happened to look at his certification (why, I don’t know) and I know that I was picked up from Navy Pier on 7/24 at approximately 8:15-8:45 and dropped off at Gino’s Pizza East. I feel so dumb (and mad, and hopefully that the next passengers turned it in to the cabbie who in then turned it in to lost and found). There was nothing of any value to anyone but me (who wants my picture of me and my friend at the ferris wheel?!?! haha) but I really want that bag back — it was the only touristy things that I bought on the entire trip. Here’s to faith in humanity! (fingers crossed) Thank you Jen for posting these cab companies. I found one spot with most of the cab companies and their numbers. You’re a real time-saver and I appreciate what you’ve done. Wish me luck.
I left my bright yellow wallet/pocket book in a cab on Saturday/Sunday at about 12:30 AM when I got dropped off at home. I happened to pay with a credit card so they could look up the can driver’s information but the company called and the driver and he said he didn’t find anything in the backseat.
There was nothing valuable in the wallet aside from a few dollars, but it will be HORRIBLE for me to replace my driver’s license (I never got an Illinois license and the one I lost was from California), CTA pass, my work ID, etc.
Any suggestions? I would pay a lot of money to not have to deal with this ID thing, but I have no idea where I could post a “reward.”
Thanks, Olivia
The direct number to Flash Cab’s lost and found is 773-866-9933.
Unfortunately, I’m going through this list looking for my iPhone and have another update:
American United’s lost and found is 773-327-6161 x.3
Additionally, you have a few area codes (American United and Globe) listed as 772 but it should be 773.
Thanks for this helpful list!
I left something in a cab and the only thing I remembered was the cab was white which narrows it down to about 6 or 8 companies. When I called the cab companies most either had a mailbox that was full or the line was busy or there was no one in lost and found. Conclusion: If you leave anything in a cab it’s best to forget about it and move on with your life.
Thanks for this post, it’s incredibly helpful! I wish that the cab companies were as helpful as you are!
I left a gold cannon digital camera in my cab last night. I picked the cab up from McClurg Ct. and got dropped off at Duffy’s on diversity around 12:30am. Please let me know if it was found.
I’m in search of a lost Kodak camera in a black case. My son & I were picked up in a cab at Navi Pier at about 5:30/5:45p Aug. 29. We got dropped off at Clark/Lake st by the green line. The pictures are of the tall ships & of my son for his senior pictures. Any help in finding the camera is greatly appreciated.
I left my black cole haan wallet in a cab this past friday night around 1 am. If anyone found it, please contact me, there is a reward. Thank you! Katie
I left a black bag with a computer in it – in a white taxi van at 8:30pm on 9/2/10. The cab dropped me off at chicago avenue & north bishop (in front of Five Star). need help – there is a reward. a big one. Thank you.
I and my family spent whole day in chicago,took lots of photos using my SONY camera.Somehow We missed our Camera in the Taxi.We used two taxies on that day
1.Navipier to Union Station,We do not know the Taxi number exactly but I can tell probapally it is 4127/4122 or something. I am not sure.
2.Union Station to 1716 South Western for taking my car. (This is Taxi number 1825, This also I am not sure)
I am sure that I missed my camera in these above taxies. Please Guys If you get my Camera Call me on my Cell 309-531-0626. We spent lots of time and taking lot of photos. It will never Happen again.
So Please help me on this.
GAnesh Natarajan
3095310626
Mail Id::: ganes71@gmail.com
Hi Folks
My mom and I were dropped off at the Drake Hotel on Sunday, Sept. 4th at approximately 5:40 p.m. (picked up at Wrigley Field). I had my mom’s wheelchair in the trunk. My mom inadvertently left her off white pocketbook in the back seat of the taxi. I am offering a reward for its return. The name inside the pocketbook is Florence Kotowski.
Please contact me at 201-941-9024 / 917-846-4664 if you can help me to find her pocketbook.
Thanks so much
I lost a digital camera on sunday night 9/5 in either the rush and division area or in a taxi. It was a pink and white samsung camera with sentimental pictures on it. If found there is a reward- Thank you
Does anyone know which cab company uses blue Scions? My husband believes that he left his phone in one and the receipt that the driver gave him had the name/number of another cab company. Please email lauren.losavio@gmail.com if you happen to know. Thank you!
I left a DLSR Camera and IPAD this morning in a White Scion cab from the Marriott Downtown to Chicago Midway. Just as the cab was leaving I realized I left it in the front seat floorboard. I don’t have a cab number or company name. Please email mkirk@progress-inc.com if you happen to find it. Thank You
My wife and I and two friends visited Chicago on October 1st and 2nd. On October 2nd we took a cab from Navy Pier to Ogelvie train station to head back to Schaumburg, IL. Unfortanately my wife left our SONY snap shot camera in the cab. We got nothing. Only thing I remember is the cab was all white with what I thought was a maroon logo on the side and the drivers name was Muhammad(probably the most common of cab driver names). When looking at the photos, it seems that the cab was a city service cab. But I called them and they have no cameras. The photos on the camera are only of the four of us(cuz my wife dumped the memory card for space before we left). If anyone has any halpful info, my number is 217-549-0655. It would make my wife so happy.
HELP! I lost my Canon 5D Mark II digital SLR camera in the back seat of a taxi last night (i know! what a dumb move!) There’s a cash reward if found!
I’ll give this a shot because I am at my last resort…I believe I left my laptop in a cab going from Shaw’s to Ogilvie Train Station. It is in a black case, neon green interior, Apple MacBook Pro. It will have my name appear on the login screen. I am offering a sizeable reward if someone is kind enough to find it and contact me at jenna.neshi@gmail.com. Fingers are crossed….praying to all the gods…
Hello ….. thanks for for this great idea …. I lost my wallet in a cap on Sunday early morning …. it was a white van (with green or blue – not sure)cab …. I appreciate if someone can help me in finding it….
I lost my sony digital camera on Saturday night (right after my engagement to my fiance). What should have been a nice evening turned out to be a very tearful night. I really hope it is returned if found. The photos that were in there are of very sentimental value. PLEASE email me if you find it. there will be an award. Thank you
Sara
Guys,
this site is not supposed to be a lost and found exchange.
Jen did a fantastic job in getting this list together, now you have to call your self and ask for your lost items.
If you still gonna be unlucky, try http://www.craigslist.com
Good Luck and THX again Jen!
Magdalena
Jen, I think it’s great that you have pictures of these cabs. I lost my cell phone last night, and your list helped me start my search for it.
Your list is incomplete, though. The City of Chicago keeps a list of all its taxi cab affiliations. If you Google something like “Chicago Taxi Affiliation List”, look for a search result from cityofchicago.org — that’s the City of Chicago’s official website.
The city’s list contains cab company names, phone numbers, addresses, and color descriptions. But their list doesn’t have pictures–so that’s where this site comes into play.
Anyway, thanks for posting this!
- Lou
I should also add that the City’s list does not include private companies. It only lists cab companies that are officially licensed to operate in Chicago..
Hi I lost my brown cole hann wallet last night Thursday nov 4th at 1120 pm in the backseat of a white cab that picked me up in the 2500 block of north ashland and dropped me off at huron and wells intersection. In the wallet was my ids, business cards, health insurance, credit cards. I would pay a 200 dollar cash reward to anyone who can bring this wallet back to me this weekend. Thank you.
So I left my wallet in a cab and was completely clueless of what cab it was.. I got an email today from Carmen at City Service Taxi. She was very helpful and made sure I got my wallet back. So I guess what I am saying that if you think you lost something in a City Service Taxi call and ask for Carmen.
Thank you for this website
I was rushing to theatre last night and left my $800 Canon Rebel in the cab. It took me less than 3 mins to realize what I had done. Luckily I had paid with my card and gotten a meter receipt so I had the name of the cab company (City Service Taxi) and the cab #. I called them immediately and the dispatcher tried contacting the cabbie. Nothing. He wasn’t responding. I called her several times that night asking,”if she gotten through yet, could she have him come back and pick me up, does she have his cell phone, etc.”? There was nothing she could do unless he responded to her dispatches.
So here’s the skinny on how these places work…
The dispatcher has no personal info on the cab drivers: no cell, no work schedule, no idea if the cab returns at the end of the night or if goes home with the driver, no policy of cabbies checking in every so often. If you lose something during regular office hours the manager is available who has access to that info and can reach the cab driver, but at night, it seems these drivers are really flying solo. She said she would call me if she reached him or to wait until 9am to call back – may be he will bring it in at the end of his shift. Yet you are really at mercy of whether or not he driver finds your stuff and decides to return or the mercy of the next patron who hops in the cab.
I called back to speak with the same woman at 9am the next day. She was still very kind and left a message with the manager regarding my report. And then again, I waited. My hope in getting my camera back was quickly diminishing. How do taxi services have such giant loop holes in their communication policies with drivers? I had contacted them right away. He could have driven right back and given to me, but he was unreachable? It didn’t make sense to me and I began think the worst. I looked up what other options I had online. In Chicago you can call the Department of Consumer Services at 312.744.4006 to report your items being lost in a cab. They will need as much info as you can provide: taxi company, Cab #, time, place. So it is mighty important to get a metered receipt with the cab deets on there or at least memorize the cab number on the roof B4 you get in. The more info you have, the more likely they can hunt down your lost items. I left a message with DCS explaining my story and the details. And then, waited.
Around 11:30am, I heard back from the manager at City Service taxi, CARMEN! She had reached the driver and he had my camera!! What?! Relief. I thanked her and the lovely dispatcher, LAURIE!, that I had hounded the night before. She gave the cabbie my cell and within the hour he called me. He said that when he saw the camera bag, he looked through it for a name and number, but b/c I didn’t think ahead, he found no contact info. He realized that I was probably worried and wanted to get it back to me, but wasn’t sure how so he just hung onto it for me. His shift ended at 6am and promptly went to bed. When he awoke he received the messages regarding my camera and called in. I was so grateful and my faith in humanity was returning. I felt so lucky and appreciative that this man was my cab driver. He dropped of the camera at my house and I gave him a nice card with a $50 reward. He deserves it.
So my story turned good, so if you have lost something in a cab don’t give up hope. There are really good people out there. I have been reminded that we all need to look out for each other. You never know when you will be the one in need of the extra kindness. That being said and immensely felt, the one thing that I still find unnecessary is that from the time I lost my camera it took 17 hours for the cab driver to be reached by the company. As a business, how is this even justifiable? All the stress we each went through could have been eliminated by a phone call, a text message, cb radio (or whatever it is they use these days). And why didn’t the cabbie call it in right away? Shouldn’t that just be policy? Or was he deciding what he wanted to do with it all night? Nonetheless, I am grateful to have a stupid error on my part turn out to be only just that. And I am super grateful that there are good people among us that care enough to help one another out when we fall rather than capitalize upon it. Good luck to anyone attempting to recover a lost item. I am sending good vibes your way!!
Hi- I lost my keys in a cab on 11.12.10 around 7pm. If you found please let me know. I really need them.
Hi – I lost my Iphone on 11/13 between 1030 and Midnight. My cab dropped me off at roughly wells and north avenue. It is a black iphone in a black hard plastic case with a gray rim around it. The case is broken off around the charger input on the bottom of the phone. If you found it please contact me at 312-315-3668. Thank you so much.
I found this link with all the Chicago Taxicab affiliates
http://www.cityofchicago.org/content/dam/city/depts/bacp/publicvehicleinfo/passengerinfo/taxiaffiliation010710.pdf
I realize that this post is purely about how to contact people, but I am incredibly desperate so in the hopes that someone will see this post and have my stuff, I am commenting here.
In the early morning hours (2:15 am) on Saturday, November 20th, I was in a cab that picked me up at Western + Fullerton, then dropped me off at Logan + California, with 3 other people. I rode in the front passenger seat, so I am thinking my items simply fell under the seat and were maybe not noticed by the driver or future occupants.
The problem? I lost my out-of-state driver’s license and my Chicago Card Plus. The Chi Card could be replaced, but the DL cannot. I do not have all of the proper documentation to get an Illinois ID/DL, and I am unable to travel to my home state of Arkansas to acquire a replacement, since I would need the ID to board a bus/plane/train or to drive (though I have no car). I do not have a passport or any other form of ID, so this is extremely important, as I would like to be able to return home for the holidays to see my family.
If you or anyone you know happens to drive a taxi in the city, PLEASE take just a moment and ask them to check for this. I will pay a reward. It really is that important to me. Thanks!
On Friday night (December 3rd) Sat morning at 3am, I left an Orange Canon Camera in a taxi cab near Rush/Division; and I am desperate to find it. I’m willing to pay a reward and meet up with anyone who has the camera. It has over 1,000 pictres in there that are extremely important to me. If anyone finds it or has it, please contact me at 8473318311. Again, I am willing to pay a reward for the camera.
Hi,
My daughter, who lives in Lincoln Park, left a shopping bag in a Chicago cab the evening she returned from Thanksgiving in Detroit. The bag contained a brand new coat which had been charged to her Amex card. She was sick about it, but then I remembered American Express might cover it. She just made the arrangements with them today, and it was very easy. You just need to know the date of purchase, and the amount, and then make a police report for their insurance, again very,very easy.
Initially we waited for the cabbie to put the fare charge through, again on AMEX, but he never did, so we figured he decided to keep the merchandise instead. Hope this helps, because I tried calling the taxi companies and got nothing. I am still grateful that Jen did this listing though because it gave me comfort that there was something I could do!