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If you've ever stepped out of an Uber and realised, too late, that your phone is still sitting on the back seat, you're in good company. According to Uber's latest Lost and Found Index, Sydney has officially claimed the title of Australia's most forgetful city.
The annual report tracks the thousands of items left behind in Ubers across the country – and while Sydneysiders are particularly talented at forgetting their belongings, the things they're leaving behind are getting stranger by the year.
Topping the list of Australia's most bizarre forgotten items are a taxidermy mink, a French horn, DJ decks and – somehow – two actual pugs. There was also a microwave (?!), a surfboard, a framed photo of Bluey, a birth certificate, a Rolex, a Nintendo Switch, a VR headset and four cinnamon scrolls that, sadly, never made it home.
The report also suggests Australia's digital camera revival is very real. Phones remained the number one item left behind, but cameras came in second, ahead of backpacks, keys, wallets and clothing.
Speaking of clothing, Uber says Australians continue to have a habit of abandoning belts, while pants, skirts, shorts and heels also regularly get left in the back seat. Whether that's the result of a big night out or an ambitious wardrobe change on the go remains a mystery.
Sydney topped the rankings as the nation's most forgetful city, followed by Melbourne and Perth. Brisbane, Adelaide, the Gold Coast, Canberra and Newcastle rounded out the top eight, proving this is very much a nationwide problem.
Uber also crunched the numbers to reveal exactly when we're at our most absent-minded. Saturday was officially Australia's most forgetful day of the week, with Friday and Sunday close behind – a statistic that probably won't surprise anyone who's ever caught a rideshare home after dinner and drinks.
The most forgetful hours? 11am, 11pm and 6am. Apparently Australians are equally capable of losing things after brunch, on the way back from a night out and before their first coffee.
As for the most commonly abandoned belongings, the top ten looked a little more predictable: phones, cameras, bags, keys, wallets, clothing, headphones, glasses, passports and cash all made the list.
Fortunately, if your prized possession does end up taking an unexpected extra ride around Sydney, Uber says retrieving it is relatively straightforward. Riders can report a lost item through the app by selecting their trip under the Activity tab and contacting their driver directly or requesting assistance through Uber Support.
You can check out the full report over here.
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