Have you ever wondered what would happen if you forgot your backpack on a MetroNorth train to New Haven? Well you’re in luck, that happened to me this weekend. Here is how it works.

1. The conductor sweeps the train after everyone gets off to find any belongings that were left behind and puts them in a “lock box.” It’s called a lock box because anything they put there can’t come out until it’s at the Lost and Found center at Grand Central even if your backpack has your lap top in it and you really, really need it.

2. The lock box can’t be reopened by anyone at Union Station in New Haven. Not even to see if your back pack is in there even though you’re not asking for it back you just want to know that it’s in the box and nothing is going to happen to it.

3. You must fill out a lost and found form online at the MTA’s website. It may take two to three business days for them to sort through the lock box. Remember, the guy on the phone has no contact with anyone at MetroNorth and can’t beg them to open the lock box.

4. Despite what the MetroNorth customer service hotline operator says, reporting the backpack to the police does not give them permission to open the lock box- in fact, they don’t even know where the lock box is.

5. Even though the Lost and Found opens on Monday at 7:00 AM, they don’t get any lock boxes from Friday until 4:00 PM. Not even the one the MetroNorth ticket operator said was already on it’s way back to New York.