Europcar’s Lost Property in Rental Vehicles Includes Rodents, Ashes

Europcar UK released a report on Sept. 19 of the oddest items left behind in their rentals in 2012.

Among the common items left by customers are sunglasses, CDs and loose change. However, some of the most unusual items left in rental cars this year include a live mouse in a cage, two 6×10 foot oil paintings, 30 plants, a hedge trimmer and ashes in an urn.

The ashes were returned to the customer who had brought them over from South Africa. All the glasses that go unclaimed are recycled as part of Europcar’s “Go Green” pledge.

The rarest item left behind was discovered at Europcar’s Blackpool Station location; it was a life-size dummy, dressed as an old lady, left in the trunk of a Ford Focus.

“Judging from our lost property, our vehicles have a tale to tell” said Europcar UK Managing Director Ken McCall. “But our staff always goes out of their way to reunite our customers with their forgotten items, no matter how bizarre.”