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

Helpful resources for Ann Arbor

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Ann Arbor

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FOUND utensils in Ann Arbor

I found a handful of everyday utensils outside a cafe near Kerrytown Market & Shops on a sunny Sunday around 1:20 p.m. I pulled them from a planter where they’d tumbled after the lunchtime rush—the fork, a couple of spoons, and a bright blue spatula all tangled together. They look used but sturdy, with a faint smell of garlic from lunch and a bit of grease on the handles. It feels oddly personal to think about who they belong to, and I hope they find their way back.

near Kerrytown Market & Shops, outside the cafe 10 days ago

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Found swimsuits by downtown Ann Arbor

This afternoon around 3:15 PM I found a bag with swimsuits on a bench by the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum on East Liberty Street, not far from the Michigan Theater. The swimsuits were inside a bright pink tote, with a towel and a pair of goggles peeking out. There was no name tag I could spot, so I kept an eye on them and moved them to a safer spot while I finished my walk. I can only imagine how someone is looking for these, and I hope this helps.

Outside the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum, East Liberty St 20 days ago

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Found Apple earbuds near Northside Community Center

Found Apple earbuds near street outside of the Northside Community Center in early June. Please contact me if they are yours. (Battery added for scale)

Ann Arbor about 2 months ago

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Found: Trading Cards near Michigan Union

I found them at 2:15 p.m. on Tuesday, scattered on the sidewalk in front of the Michigan Union on State Street, right near the bustle of campus life. The collection has a mix of baseball and fantasy cards, some glossy, others a bit worn, with a few corners bent from being carried around in a backpack. I remember when I traded cards with friends as a kid, and I felt a rush of nostalgia, yet also a sense of responsibility to get these back to someone who wants them back. I tucked them into a protective sleeve and posted them here, hoping the owner sees this and claims them through the site.

Michigan Union, State Street 2 months ago

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Black Fossil wallet with red interior

I found a black Fossil bifold wallet this afternoon around 2:45 pm outside the Michigan Theater on State Street, downtown Ann Arbor. It’s slim and well-worn, with a red lining and a tiny coffee stain on the back corner; you can see the Fossil logo on the inside. Inside I spotted a couple of loyalty cards and a faded photo of a dog—no cash visible, just receipts and cards. I know wallets like this can hold important stuff, so I’d love to get it back to its owner. If this is yours, message me here and we can set up a pickup near the theater.

Ann Arbor 3 months ago

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Keys with blue USB drive and red Milo tag

I found a set of keys this afternoon around 4:15pm in the parking lot behind the Ann Arbor District Library on Fifth Ave, just off Liberty. The ring has a large brass house key, a black car key fob, and a small blue USB drive wedged between them. There’s also a red silicone tag with the name 'Milo' scrawled on it, which should help identify the owner. They’re a little scratched from daily use but otherwise functional. If the owner sees this, I’d be glad to help return them—please reach out.

Ann Arbor 4 months ago