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

Helpful resources for Brainerd

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Brainerd

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Found memory cards near Paul Bunyan Mall, Brainerd

While cleaning out the glove box Saturday around 2:30 p.m., I found several memory cards tucked under a seat near Paul Bunyan Mall in Brainerd. They’re a mix of SD and microSD cards with obvious labels like 'Minnesota Trip 2024' and 'Family Album.' They looked recently used but forgotten, and I felt a little relief thinking someone else might be looking for them, too. I kept them in a safe place in case the owner comes back, hoping the owner will recognize their own memories and claim them soon.

near Paul Bunyan Mall, Brainerd 2 days ago

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Found Hand Tools in Brainerd

This afternoon around 4:20 pm, I found a bundle of hand tools lying on the sidewalk outside Brainerd City Hall. I picked them up, checked for an owner tag, and there wasn't any obvious ID. The tools are in a weathered red bag, with a hammer, pliers, and a small drill bit set peeking out. If the owner sees this, I hope you or the lost-and-found folks see it and can claim them.

outside Brainerd City Hall, near the Paul Bunyan statue 3 days ago

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Found travel visas near Paul Bunyan statue, Brainerd.

I found travel visas yesterday around 5:30 PM, tucked under a bench by the Paul Bunyan statue in downtown Brainerd. They were inside a blue folder with a small sticker from a recent conference and a passport photo peeking out. The scene felt tense—someone rushing to catch a flight, papers fluttering in the breeze as the streetlights flickered to life. I know how stressful it is to misplace important documents, so I’m posting here to help reunite these visas with their owner. If these sound familiar, please claim them on the site where they’ll be guarded by the community.

Near the Paul Bunyan statue, downtown Brainerd 22 days ago

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Gold-tone hoop earrings with turquoise beads

Found a pair of earrings this afternoon around 3:45 pm near the Paul Bunyan statue in downtown Brainerd, by the 8th Street roundabout. They’re gold-tone hoops, about 1 inch across, with a small turquoise teardrop bead dangling from each hoop. One earring has a tiny heart engraving on the back, and the other shows a faint dent near the clasp from being rubbed along the pavement. They’re in decent condition overall, just a bit dusty from lying on the ground, and I know someone is probably missing them. If these belong to you, I’d love to help get them back to you.

Brainerd about 2 months ago

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Blue lanyard ID card found near library

I found a blue ID card this afternoon around 3:45pm behind the Brainerd Public Library on Willow Street, near the bike racks by the back entrance. The card lives in a clear plastic sleeve, attached to a blue lanyard with white stripes. The name on the card appears to be 'Mia Patel' with a small photo of a smiling woman. There's a tiny panda sticker on the sleeve that should help identify it. If this belongs to you, I’d be happy to get it back to you; I know how important an ID can be.

Brainerd about 2 months ago

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Black 49-key MIDI keyboard found near Brainerd Library

I found a black M-Audio Keystation 49 MK3 USB MIDI keyboard controller this afternoon around 4:15pm. It was sitting in the parking lot behind Brainerd Market on 2nd Ave S, not far from the library entrance. It’s in decent shape with a small dent on the right edge and a bright blue sticker with the initials 'JL' on the back. It looks like someone was in the middle of a practice session, maybe after a gig—hope to get it back to its owner soon. If this is yours, send me a message here with the sticker initials and any other identifying detail that only you would know.

Brainerd 3 months ago