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

Helpful resources for Asheville

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Asheville

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Leopard gecko in glass terrarium

I found a leopard gecko today, yellow-tan with brown spots and a bright orange tail, about 4 inches long. It's in a clear glass terrarium with a cork hide, a little fake plant, and a small heat mat under the substrate. I found it this afternoon around 2:45pm in the Grove Arcade parking lot behind Pack Square in downtown Asheville. The gecko seems healthy, no collar or tag, and its eyes are bright and curious. It has a couple identifying marks: a small crescent-shaped white speck on its neck and a slightly bent right hind toe. If you're the owner or know someone who is missing a reptile, please reach out - I'm glad to help reunite it with its person.

Asheville 2 months ago

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Gray nylon backpack with red zipper found near Grove Arcade

I found a gray nylon backpack this afternoon around 2:15pm, left on a bench outside the Grove Arcade on Wall Street in downtown Asheville. It's a medium-sized bag, about 12 by 14 inches, with bright red zipper pulls and a small blue enamel pine-tree pin on the front pocket. Inside there's a pink umbrella, a cracked phone charger, and a well-worn map tucked in the side pocket. The bag has a few scuffs along the bottom and a coffee stain on the inner lining, but it's otherwise in decent shape. If you're the owner, I'm glad to help reunite you.

Asheville 3 months ago

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Pink knit scarf with silver pin found near Grove Arcade

I found a pink knit scarf this afternoon around 2:15pm, draped over a bike rack outside Grove Arcade on East Haywood Street in downtown Asheville. It’s a soft acrylic knit, about 60 inches long, with a small silver snowflake pin at the end. There are light pills from wear and a faint coffee stain near the edge, but it’s in pretty good condition overall. I’m hoping to reunite it with its owner, especially since it felt like a favorite on these chilly days.

Asheville 3 months ago

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Black portable Bluetooth speaker with red sticker

I found a small black Bluetooth speaker this afternoon around 2:45pm near Battery Park Book Exchange on Battery Park Ave in downtown Asheville. It’s about the size of a soda can, with a soft fabric grille and a slight dent along the bottom edge. The brand logo on the front looks like JBL, and there’s a red sticker with the initials 'AL' peeling a little at the corner. It’s in decent shape overall, just a couple of scuffs. If this sounds like yours, check those details and swing by Battery Park to claim it.

Asheville 3 months ago

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Blue dragon plush with orange wings found downtown Asheville

I found a blue dragon plush near the splash fountain at Pack Square Park this afternoon around 2:15pm. It's about 12 inches tall, super soft, with orange felt wings and a small tear on the left wing. A red satin ribbon is tied around its neck and there's a tiny glitter name tag that reads 'Nova,' plus a little star patch on the belly. If this belongs to your kid, we can meet by Battery Park Book Exchange or right by the fountain in downtown Asheville so you can reclaim it.

Asheville 3 months ago

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Hand-painted wall plaque with mountain motif

I found a hand-painted wall plaque with a mountain motif this afternoon around 3pm behind the Battery Park Book Exchange on Haywood Street, downtown Asheville. It's about 12 inches tall by 8 inches wide, with a distressed white wooden frame and a glossy ceramic tile in the center that swirls teal, emerald, and gold. I can see a small signature in the bottom-right corner that reads 'M. Larkin.' The back has a faint heart carved into the wood and a tiny sticker that says 'Studio North Asheville.' It looks well cared for, just dusty from being outside. If someone recognizes it, I’d love to reunite you with it.

Asheville 4 months ago