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

Helpful resources for Auburn

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Auburn

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Work cases found in Auburn, AL

I found a set of work cases in a canvas tote near Toomer's Corner around 3:45 PM today. The bag looked worn but sturdy, with a faded label and a zipper that sticks a bit. I picture someone rushing between classes, maybe after a long shift, realizing a sleeve of tools and documents is missing. I hope the owner spots this and settles it back through the site so it can be put back to use.

near Toomer's Corner 2 days ago

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Found Samsung Galaxy S21 in lime case with cat sticker

I found a Samsung Galaxy S21 this afternoon around 3:15pm in the parking lot behind the CVS on Opelika Road in Auburn, near Toomer's Corner. It's in a bright lime-green silicone case with a tiny black cat sticker on the back and a small dent on the bottom-right corner. The screen is on and shows a few photos of a dog in the wallpaper; there are no obvious owner contact details on the lock screen. The phone looks fairly new and seems well cared for, so I’ll keep it safe near the bike racks in that lot until someone claims it. If this sounds like yours, please respond through the app and describe the cat sticker or the wallpaper to verify ownership.

Auburn 6 months ago

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Blue Nike hoodie found near Toomer's Corner

I found a royal blue Nike hoodie this afternoon around 3:15pm in the parking lot behind the Auburn Student Union on College Street, not far from Toomer's Corner. It's a men's size Large with a white Nike swoosh on the chest and a warm gray fleece lining. It's in pretty good shape, but there's a tiny coffee stain on the left sleeve and the white drawstrings are a bit frayed. If someone misplaced it during a quick study break or a campus run, I'd be glad to return it.

Auburn 7 months ago

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Found Auburn ID card near Toomer's Corner

Found an Auburn University ID badge this afternoon around 2:15pm on College Street near Toomer's Corner by the AU Bookstore. It's a standard rectangular plastic card with a blue border, a small photo, and a blue lanyard with the AU logo. The name on the badge reads 'A. Rivera' and the department says 'Student Services'—there's a light scratch across the photo and a bit of fraying on the lanyard. I really want to get it back to its owner because it likely grants access and helps with classes, so if this is yours, message me and we can arrange a pickup with some identity verification.

Auburn 7 months ago

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Found white Apple AirPods Pro charging case

I found a white Apple AirPods Pro charging case this afternoon around 3:15pm near Toomer's Corner on College Street in Auburn. The case is in good cosmetic shape with a few tiny scratches along the lid and a small dent on the back edge. The back has a tiny engraving 'SL' that could help the owner identify it. No earbuds were inside, so I’m hoping to reunite the owner with their case. If this looks like yours, drop me a message and we can arrange a safe meetup near the corner.

Auburn 7 months ago

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Delicate gold-tone bracelet with birthstone charm

I found a delicate gold-tone bracelet this afternoon around 4pm, lying on the sidewalk outside the CVS on College Street near Toomer's Corner in Auburn. It's a slim, about 6.5-inch gold-tone bangle with a pink birthstone charm and a tiny heart charm engraved with the letter 'A'. The clasp works but feels a bit stiff, and there's a small scratch along the back from the pavement. It looks fairly new, maybe a gift, so it seems to have sentimental value to the owner. If anyone recognizes this, I’d love to help get it back to them.

Auburn 7 months ago