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 Ames? 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 Ames; 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 Ames with enough detail for the real owner to identify it — while holding back one verifying detail.

Helpful resources for Ames

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Ames

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Found: Scarves near ISU campus, Ames

On Tuesday around 5:30 PM, I found a scarf draped over a bench along College Creek Park near the Memorial Union on the ISU campus in Ames. It’s a soft cream knit with a thin blue stripe and a small embroidered fox near the hem—clearly someone’s favorite. I picked it up, hoping to reunite it with its owner, and brought it with me to keep it safe while I looked for clues nearby. If this belongs to you, check in and maybe I can help get it back to you.

near ISU Memorial Union, Campustown 7 days ago

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Found: Equipment for Various Sports in Ames

I was walking home from the ISU Recreation Center through Campustown in Ames around 7:42 PM on Tuesday when I found a bag of equipment for various sports lying by a bench near Lincoln Way. The bag contained a basketball, tennis rackets, a softball glove, and a few smaller items with a team name written on the tag. I picked it up and kept it safe, hoping the owner would see this listing. If this sounds like yours, please check around the Memorial Union area or the Campustown by the ISU Recreation Center.

by the ISU Memorial Union, Campustown, Ames 9 days ago

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found: Pins in Ames near ISU campus

I was walking behind the ISU Memorial Union in Ames around 8:45 a.m. when I found a small bundle of enamel pins. They’re a mix of campus logos and quirky designs, tucked into a clear plastic pouch I spotted on the sidewalk by Campustown. I picked them up hoping they belonged to someone who would recognize them, because they looked like a personal collection rather than stray trinkets. If these pins belong to you, I hope you see this and can reconnect with them soon.

behind the Memorial Union, Campustown 10 days ago

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found GPS devices near ISU Memorial Union

Last Thursday, around 7:20 p.m., I found a weathered black GPS device case on the sidewalk near the ISU Memorial Union in Ames, Iowa. Inside the case were two GPS units with tangled cords and a frayed charging cable. The scene felt oddly precise yet ordinary—a reminder that someone’s travel plans, job routes, or hiking trips could hinge on these devices. I picked them up, checked the nearby benches, and kept an eye out for a lost-and-found post at the campus center. I’m posting this in case the owner sees it.

near the ISU Memorial Union, Ames campus 15 days ago

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Found: Holiday Decorations in Ames.

I found these Holiday Decorations this morning around 11:30 a.m. near Main Street and Grand Avenue in Ames, Iowa. A tote with string lights and several ornaments had been left on the curb by the sidewalk while I was walking to the library. I picked them up and brought them here, hoping the owner checks this listing and can reclaim their festive items. It reminded me how special decorating can be, even in the middle of a grey January day.

Main St & Grand Ave 19 days ago

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Found sheet music near the ISU Campanile

I found sheet music near the ISU Campanile in Ames around 6:45 p.m. yesterday. I was walking back toward Campustown when I spotted a small bundle of pages on a bench outside Parks Library. It looks like someone was practicing a piano piece and the wind kept flipping the pages. I kept it dry and intact, hoping it can find its owner; please contact through the site if this sounds like yours.

near the Campanile, ISU campus 23 days ago