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

Helpful resources for Boulder

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Boulder

found C

Found: Postcards near Pearl Street, Boulder

I was hiking along the Boulder Creek Path and around 4:30 p.m. on Saturday I spotted a small stack of postcards lying on the railing near Pearl Street Mall. Some were vintage sepia-toned views, others bright travel cards; several had handwritten notes on the back. I picked them up and kept them safe in my bag, thinking someone must be missing them after their trip to the Flatirons. I’m posting here in case the owner sees this and can claim them on the site. It felt nice to help reunite a memory with the right person.

Pearl Street Mall gazebo 8 days ago

found A

Navy blue zip-up hoodie with green leaf patch

I found this navy blue zip-up hoodie this afternoon around 3:15pm on Pearl Street Mall, near the Boulder Public Library. It's a men's size L North Face hoodie, with a small green leaf patch stitched on the left chest and a faint coffee stain near the hem. The zipper sticks a bit but still works, and the inner tag clearly says North Face. If the owner sees this, I’d be glad to help get it back to you.

Boulder about 1 month ago

found P

Gray Nike running shoes found near Pearl Street Mall, Boulder

I found a pair of gray Nike running shoes this afternoon around 2:15pm behind the Boulder Book Store on Pearl Street, near the bike racks by the mall entrance. They're size US9, men's, with white soles and neon lime laces; the left shoe has a small scuff on the toe and a faint water stain from today's drizzle. The right shoe looks fairly new, and the overall condition is pretty clean. It seemed like the owner just paused during a run and forgot them, and I’d hate to see them go missing. If the owner recognizes them, I’m around the Pearl Street area most afternoons and happy to meet near the Boulder Book Store to return them.

Boulder 2 months ago

found P

Black Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses, found near Pearl Street Mall

I found a pair of black Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses yesterday afternoon around 3:15pm near the Pearl Street Mall fountain in Boulder. The frames are matte black with silver hinges and clear lenses, in good condition except for a tiny scratch on the left lens. The inside of the left temple has a faint engraving 'RB' and there’s a blue sticker with 'L' on the nose pad. They come with a black zip case that has a small dent, but the case still closes securely. If you're missing these, please reach out—I’m hoping to reunite them with the owner soon.

Boulder 3 months ago

found A

Found: Black iPhone 13 Pro with blue case

I found a black iPhone 13 Pro sitting on the curb near the Pearl Street Mall steps this afternoon around 3:15pm. It’s in a blue Speck case with a white paw-print sticker on the back and a tiny dent on the bottom edge. The screen protector is cracked along the top-right corner, but the phone unlocked quickly and showed a nature-themed wallpaper. I’d really like to get it back to its owner—phones like this matter a lot to people. If this sounds like yours, email me at [email protected] and tell me a distinguishing detail (paw-print sticker, blue case) to verify.

Boulder 4 months ago

found E

Black Anker power bank with fox sticker

I found a black Anker 10,000mAh portable power bank this afternoon around 2:15pm outside the Boulder Public Library on Arapahoe Ave, near the Pearl Street Mall. It has a small fox sticker on the top edge and a few light scrapes along the casing. A blue USB-C charging cable is still attached, and a white LED indicator glows when it’s plugged in. It seems like a handy item for someone who spends time downtown and really needs a reliable charger. If you recognize it, we can meet up near the library to swap it back.

Boulder 4 months ago