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

Helpful resources for Athens

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Athens

found B

Found GA license plate with 2027 sticker

I found what I'm pretty sure of... a GA Tag/lisense plate, whatever...with year sticker good through 2027 that may have fallen off of a motorcycle with Clarke county on it because it's a small tag still on the mounting bracket which is in mint condition, new one not needed. The screws holding it on to the motorcycle should've been with lock nuts like the The plate screws are. $1,000,000,000.00 finders fee, required. Kidding of course!!! Email me at [email protected] and tell me the tag number and leave phone number. Lost I'd say around June 22nd or 23rd, found near my driveway next to road

Urgent

Athens 2 days ago

found J

Ring found in parking lot near Athens Target

Ring found in parking lot near Athens Target. Closer to old Michael’s/ Joann’s building.

Athens 6 days ago

found E

Found travel visas near the UGA Arch

I found a brown leather folder with travel visas peeking out on a bench outside the UGA Arch on Lumpkin Street, around 7:15 p.m. on Friday. A few stamps and a name were visible, folded papers wedged between receipts. I tucked the folder under my arm and headed to the campus lost-and-found, hoping the owner would see this post. It felt unexpectedly hopeful to reunite someone with such important documents after a long week of lectures and coffee spills. If these items sound familiar, please check with the campus lost-and-found desk near the student center.

Outside the UGA Arch on Lumpkin Street 10 days ago

found M

Found microwaves near Georgia Theatre on Broad Street.

I found two microwaves outside the Tate Student Center loading dock around 7:45 p.m. last Friday, Athens, Georgia. They sat on a metal cart near the exit, cords looping over the concrete. I asked a few late-studying neighbors and scanned the surrounding lounges, but no one claimed them. I turned them in to campus security with a note about where and when I found them. It stings to think someone might be missing their kitchen gear after a long lab, but I hope they come back to their home soon. If these are yours, they’re waiting at the campus security desk for pickup when you claim them on the site.

near the Tate Center, UGA campus 21 days ago

found N

Nintendo Switch OLED found near Monastiraki

I found a gaming device this afternoon around 2:15pm outside a cafe on Ermou Street near Monastiraki Square in Athens. It's a Nintendo Switch OLED model in white, with neon red and blue Joy-Cons attached. The screen is clean and the unit looks well cared for, but there's a tiny scratch along the top edge and it sits in a blue silicone grip case. On the back there's a small green turtle sticker, plus the protective case has a chipped corner that's easy to spot. If this is yours, email me at [email protected] with a description of the sticker and the case so we can verify and reunite it with you.

Athens about 1 month ago

found A

Found blue-glazed ceramic vase with floral motif

I found this blue-glazed ceramic vase this afternoon around 3:15 pm outside the Acropolis Museum on Dionysiou Areopagitou Street in Athens. The vase is about 25 cm tall, hand-painted with a cobalt-blue floral motif around the rim and a clean white body. There's a tiny chip on the rim and a faded sticker on the bottom reading 'Minoan Studio'. It looked like a cherished piece, and I’d really like to reunite it with its owner. If you recognize it, send me a note and we can arrange a meetup near the museum entrance.

Athens 3 months ago