From Gems To Toys—

Found Items Inventory Holds Range Of Goods

By Andrew Gorosko

Besides serving as local law enforcement headquarters and the site of town’s emergency dispatching center, the police station at 3 Main Street is Newtown’s lost and found center.

For a period of time, police hold for safekeeping items that have been turned over to them by the people who found them.

Police are now holding a range of items in their found-property locker, which is supervised by Sergeant Darlene Froehlich. Sgt Froehlich may be reached at the police station at 426-5841.

The items being held run the gamut, ranging from valuable gems to lawn ornaments.

A list of those found items and where and when those items were found follows.

The list is in reverse-chronological order, starting with the items that were turned over to police most recently.

Currently being held are: a black leather Tommy Hilfiger-brand wallet, January 17, Newtown High School; a key to a Ford vehicle, January 3, Hall Lane; a United States flag folded within a red bag, January 2, Beckett Village Road; an inflatable snowman lawn ornament, December 29, no location given; a set of keys, December 19, Post Office at Commerce Road; a red-and-yellow toy car, December 5, Brooks Pharmacy at 5 Queen Street; and a toddler’s red overcoat, November 24, near 159 Currituck Road.

Also being held by police for safekeeping are: tennis rackets and balls, November 9, Philo Curtis Road near Treadwell Park; a Magna 18-speed bicycle, November 6, Queen Street; a power weed trimmer, October 3, Tunnel Road; and a gold bracelet, September 13, Ice Cream Shop on Church Hill Road.

Also being held are a troll lawn ornament, September 7, the Taunton District; a bayonet and an ice scraper, August 31, Wedgewood Court; a pair of eyeglasses with a case, August 28, Osborne Hill Road; a car key to a Chrysler, August 10, the gazebo at The Pleasance at 1 Main Street; and a pair of woman’s sunglasses, August 7, the rear parking lot at the police station.

Also, police are seeking to find the owner of a loose cut diamond, which apparently fell off a ring. That gem was found in February 2003 in front of the Big Y supermarket at 6 Queen Street.

Police dispose of found items which are not claimed by their owners.