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

Helpful resources for Boone

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Boone

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Found carry-ons near Mast General Store, Boone

I found two carry-ons on the sidewalk outside the Mast General Store on West King Street around 5:10 PM last Friday. One is a charcoal rolling suitcase and the other a gray duffel with a blue tag. They looked recently left behind, with no ID visible. I waited for a moment in case the owner returned, but no one appeared. Traveling through Boone after a weekend hike in the Blue Ridge can be chaotic, and I’d love to help reunite these bags with their owner. I’m posting here in hopes you’ll recognize them and claim them through the site.

Mast General Store, West King Street, Boone 16 days ago

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Found Travel Adapters in Boone, NC

On Saturday at 3:15 PM, I FOUND a small zippered pouch tucked beneath a bench at the Boone Greenway Trailhead. Inside were several travel adapters in different plug shapes, a couple of USB-C cables, and a crumpled receipt from a coffee shop. The pouch was labeled 'Travel Adapters' with a blue compass pin, which told me someone must be missing it. I turned it in at the lost-and-found corner near Appalachian State University Student Union, hoping the owner would spot it soon. It felt good to help someone reconnect with their gear after a long trip.

Sentimental

near Appalachian State University Student Union 17 days ago

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FOUND: Student ID in Boone, NC

I found a Student ID this afternoon, around 2:15 pm, outside the Appalachian State University Library on Rivers Street, Boone. The card shows a photo and the name 'Jordan Lee,' attached to a blue ASU lanyard. I picked it up and looked for a way to reunite it with its owner, but there was no contact info on the card itself. I know how stressful campus life can be, and I hope to help the owner regain it soon. If you recognize this description, please check the ASU Library or the Student Union near Rivers Street.

ASU Library entrance, Rivers Street, Boone 19 days ago

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Found holiday decorations near Mast General Store

I was walking downtown Boone, North Carolina, around 7:40 pm last Friday when I spotted a tote of holiday decorations lying by the curb near Mast General Store on King Street. Inside were strings of lights, a red garland, and a handful of ornaments that still smell faintly of pine. They look like they'd belong to someone who was decking the halls for a family gathering or a small neighborhood party. I picked them up thinking the rightful owner would prefer to have them returned through the site.

near Mast General Store on King Street, downtown Boone 22 days ago

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Found: Two toasters on Boone sidewalk

Yesterday around 4:15 PM I was walking my dog along West King Street by the ASU Student Union when I spotted two toasters sitting on a bench outside a cafe. They looked a bit dusty but otherwise intact, with chrome gleaming in the late afternoon light. The cords were tangled with a leaf, and there was no name tag or sticker to identify the owner. I know how easy it is to forget something in a rush, so I am posting here in the hope the right person spots them and can claim them. If these are yours, please reply through the site with any identifying marks and brands so we can reunite you.

Near the ASU Student Union on West King St 29 days ago

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Natural wood cajon found on West King St

I found a natural wood cajon this afternoon around 2:30pm behind the Boone Community Theatre on West King Street, near the old train depot. It's about 12 inches tall and 9 inches wide, with a warm honey color and a few tiny scratches on the front panel. There’s a bright blue star sticker on the upper left corner and a faint Meinl logo along the back edge. It’s in decent shape overall, no cracks, just weathered from some outdoor storage. If this belongs to someone, I’d love to help get it back; reach out through the app so we can arrange a meetup nearby.

Boone 2 months ago