Found an item? Your responsibilities

What to do when you find someone else's property — your responsibilities and how to return it safely.

Found something in Albany? Handling it responsibly protects both you and the owner. Rules vary by location, but the principles are consistent.

Make a reasonable effort to find the owner. Check for ID, contact details, or anything that identifies who it belongs to.
Don't assume it's yours to keep. Keeping found property without trying to return it can have legal consequences. When in doubt, hand it in.
Hand valuables to the authorities. Report significant or high-value finds to the police non-emergency line for Albany; they'll log it and may issue a reference.
Store it safely. Keep the item secure and unchanged while you try to return it.
Post a found listing. Add a found-item listing for Albany with enough detail for the real owner to identify it — while holding back one verifying detail.

Helpful resources for Albany

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Albany

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Found coins near downtown Albany

I found a handful of coins on Tuesday around 3:17 p.m. while walking along West Oglethorpe Boulevard near the Albany Civic Center. The coins spilled from under a bench as a breeze lifted a few receipts, and I picked them up, recognizing random pennies, nickels, and a handful of quarters—some dates from the 1990s. They had a small, personal feel, like someone's saved change after a trip downtown. I left them on the bench for a moment while I wrote this, hoping the owner would recognize them in this post and reclaim them. If these coins look familiar, check around the bench near the riverfront when you pass by.

Near the Albany Civic Center on West Oglethorpe Blvd. 4 days ago

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Gold pendant necklace found near Crossgates Mall

I found a gold pendant necklace yesterday around 3pm in the parking lot behind the main entrance at Crossgates Mall in Albany. It's a delicate 14k gold chain, about 18 inches long, with a small heart pendant roughly 1 cm across. The back is engraved with the initials 'K.L.' and the clasp shows a tiny bend from being jostled in a bag. It's in overall good condition but clearly worn, and I figured someone might be missing it after shopping. I'd love to get it back to its owner—if this might be yours, share a description of the engraving or where you last wore it.

Albany about 1 month ago

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Nike blue running shorts with neon trim

I found a pair of Nike running shorts this afternoon around 3:15pm near the bike racks behind the Albany Public Library on North Pearl Street. They're royal blue with neon lime-green side panels, size M, and there's a small white Nike swoosh on the left leg. There's a tiny snag near the hem and the inside pocket liner is creased, which makes me think they were dropped during a 5K along Madison Ave. If these belong to you, I can meet at the library desk or nearby to return them.

Albany 2 months ago

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Found Albany concert ticket and transit pass

I found a couple of paper tickets and a blue transit pass this afternoon around 2:15pm near the Empire State Plaza entrance on Madison Ave in Albany. The tickets are white with black printing, perforated edges, and one has a small coffee stain in the bottom-right corner; the other has a red stamp for a concert. The transit pass is a blue plastic card, a bit worn at the edges, with a faded CDTA logo and a frayed black lanyard still attached. It seems like someone dropped them in a rush. If you recognize them, please message me here.

Albany 3 months ago

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Gray tabby cat with orange collar

I found a gray tabby cat this afternoon around 2:15pm near the Empire State Plaza, right by the State Street entrance in Albany. It’s a medium-sized cat with a bright orange collar and a small silver tag shaped like a fish. The cat has a distinctive white patch on its chest that looks almost heart-shaped and a tiny notch in the left ear. It seemed friendly and purring when I approached, so I brought it to a safe spot and wanted to help reunite it with its owner; it might have a slight limp in the right hind leg. If this is your cat, please describe any distinguishing traits and I can bring it to a local vet to scan for a microchip.

Albany 4 months ago

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Found delicate silver bracelet with heart charm

Found a delicate silver bracelet this afternoon around 3:20pm outside the Empire State Plaza entrance on State Street in downtown Albany. It's a 7-inch slender sterling silver chain with a tiny heart charm and a small blue enamel dot on the heart. The clasp is a standard lobster clasp, and there are faint scratches along the chain from wear, but the piece still shines. There’s no brand visible, which makes it feel like a personal item that someone cherished. I’m hoping to reunite it with its owner; if this sounds like yours, tell me a detail about it you would know—like the heart charm’s blue dot or where you last wore it.

Albany 5 months ago