Shopping carts are meant for groceries, household essentials, and the occasional impulse buy—but sometimes, shoppers leave behind items that are downright bizarre. From the unsettling to the downright illegal, abandoned shopping cart discoveries can leave store employees and fellow shoppers stunned. Here are 10 of the most shocking items ever found left behind in shopping carts.
Table of Contents
- Live Animals
- Human Ashes
- A Bag of Cash
- A Wedding Dress
- A Loaded Gun
- A Severed Finger
- A Baby (Temporarily)
- A Full Thanksgiving Dinner
- A Stolen Police Badge
- A Mysterious Jar of Teeth
1. Live Animals
Pets, Reptiles, and Even Farm Animals
Abandoned shopping carts have been found with live animals inside—some left intentionally, others by accident. Store employees have discovered everything from puppies and kittens to snakes and even chickens left behind. In one bizarre case, a shopper in Texas abandoned a cart containing a live goat, leaving store staff baffled.
Why? Some people may have second thoughts about pet purchases, while others might simply forget their furry (or scaly) companions.
2. Human Ashes
A Creepy and Mysterious Find
In a truly unsettling discovery, a Walmart employee in Florida once found an urn filled with human ashes in an abandoned cart. The container had no identification, leaving store management unsure of how to proceed. Eventually, they turned it over to local authorities.
Why? Perhaps someone was transporting the ashes and forgot them—or maybe they were left intentionally for unknown reasons.
3. A Bag of Cash
Thousands of Dollars Left Behind
In a case that sounds like a crime movie plot, a shopper in California left a shopping cart with a duffel bag containing over $20,000 in cash. Store employees, unsure if the money was stolen or part of a shady deal, immediately called the police.
Why? Theories range from a drug deal gone wrong to someone simply forgetting their life savings in the cart.
4. A Wedding Dress
A Bride’s Worst Nightmare
Imagine spending thousands on the perfect wedding dress—only to leave it behind in a shopping cart. That’s exactly what happened at a Target in Ohio, where employees found a brand-new, designer wedding gown abandoned near the checkout.
Why? Cold feet? A last-minute change of heart? Or just a very forgetful bride-to-be?
5. A Loaded Gun
A Dangerous Oversight
Shopping carts aren’t the place for firearms, but that hasn’t stopped some shoppers from leaving them behind. In multiple incidents across the U.S., loaded guns have been found in carts—sometimes with the safety off.
Why? Some may have concealed carry permits and simply forgot, while others might have been involved in illegal activity.
6. A Severed Finger
A Gruesome Discovery
In one of the most disturbing finds, a Walmart employee in Arkansas discovered a severed human finger in a shopping cart. Police later determined it belonged to a man who had lost it in a workplace accident—but how it ended up in a cart remains a mystery.
Why? Possibly a prank gone wrong or a bizarre accident.
7. A Baby (Temporarily)
Parenting Fail of the Century
In a shocking but thankfully rare incident, a parent in a Georgia supermarket forgot their infant in a shopping cart and drove off. Luckily, another shopper noticed the baby and alerted store staff before any harm was done.
Why? Sleep deprivation, distraction, or sheer absentmindedness could be to blame.
8. A Full Thanksgiving Dinner
Turkey, Stuffing, and All the Trimmings—Abandoned
One Thanksgiving Eve, a grocery store in New York found an entire uncooked Thanksgiving feast—turkey, sides, pies, and all—left in a cart. The total bill would have been over $200.
Why? A last-minute change in dinner plans? Financial regret? We may never know.
9. A Stolen Police Badge
Evidence of a Crime?
In a bizarre twist, a shopping cart in a Florida parking lot was found containing a stolen police badge, along with a fake mustache and sunglasses. Authorities suspected it was part of an impersonation scheme.
Why? Either a botched disguise or someone trying to ditch evidence.
10. A Mysterious Jar of Teeth
Straight Out of a Horror Movie
Perhaps the most unsettling find of all: a sealed mason jar filled with human teeth, discovered in a cart outside a grocery store in Oregon. Dental records were impossible to trace, leaving the origin of the teeth a mystery.
Why? A bizarre collection? A medical student’s lost project? The world may never know.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do people abandon strange items in shopping carts?
Reasons vary—forgetfulness, second thoughts, or even criminal activity. Some items may be left as pranks, while others are genuine accidents.
What happens to abandoned items?
Most stores have protocols: valuable items are turned over to lost and found or authorities, perishables are discarded, and illegal items are reported to police.
Has anyone ever been arrested for leaving something illegal in a cart?
Yes! Loaded guns, stolen goods, and drugs have led to arrests after being found in abandoned carts.
Do stores track who leaves items behind?
Some stores review security footage, especially for high-value or dangerous items, but many abandoned objects remain mysteries.
What’s the weirdest thing ever found in a shopping cart?
While the jar of teeth and severed finger are strong contenders, live animals and human ashes are also top contenders for the strangest finds.
Shopping carts are meant for groceries—not goats, guns, or human remains. Yet, as these bizarre discoveries prove, people leave behind the most unexpected (and sometimes disturbing) items. Next time you’re at the store, take a peek in the carts around you—you never know what you might find!
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