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

Helpful resources for Brighton

Find your local police force (police.uk)
Report found property to the police via 101

Recent reports in Brighton

found H

Found puppies near Brighton Pier

Found three tiny puppies tonight around 8:15 PM near Brighton Palace Pier, huddled under a bench as the sea breeze whipped in. They were tail-wagging, bright-eyed, and a little muddy from sheltering by the sea wall. I wrapped them in a towel and gave them water while I checked the area and waited for the rain to ease. I am sure someone in Brighton is missing them and I would love to help reunite them with their family.

by Brighton Palace Pier about 19 hours ago

found E

Bracelet found outside Tesco Express on Dyke Rd

Bracelet, found outside Tesco’s Express off Dyke Rd.

Brighton 14 days ago

found D

Blue Kipling backpack found, no ID.

Blue backpack. Kipling. Picked up by mistake on way home from Brighton last night. Sorry, I was hammered. No id in there.

Brighton 20 days ago

found G

Handheld and console found in Brighton.

I was strolling along Madeira Drive, Brighton, at 4:30 PM on Saturday when I found a handheld console and a separate handheld device tucked beneath a bench near the Brighton Pier. The devices looked recently dropped, still powered, with a few stickers and a light scratch on one screen. I picked them up and kept them in my bag, hoping the owner would see this and come forward through the site. They seemed cared-for, suggesting whoever owns them is perhaps anxious to have them back before the next game session.

Reward

near the Brighton Pier 30 days ago

found E

Found microwaves near Brighton Pier.

I was walking along Madeira Drive by the Brighton i360 at about 7:30 pm yesterday when I spotted two microwaves stacked in a bright blue crate by a wooden bench on the seafront. The power cords were tangled, and a white sticker on the back read 'Microwave 800W.' There wasn't anyone nearby, so I picked them up and brought them here to help the owner get them back. I know how easy it is to forget a kitchen gadget in the bustle of a day out in Brighton, and I felt relieved to do the right thing. I hope this helps someone recognize their gear and claim it soon.

outside the i360 on Madeira Drive about 1 month ago

found A

Found GPS device on Brighton seafront near Palace Pier

I found a GPS device on the Brighton seafront near the Palace Pier at about 11:15 this morning. It was half-buried in the pebbles beside a blue puffer jacket, the screen flickering with a map and a contact sticker that reads 'Alex.' I picked it up, wiped off the salt spray, and checked the only visible label—a pink wrist strap with a name partial. It looks clearly used for outdoor biking or running. I left it with the lifeguard hut for safety, hoping the owner will spot this listing and claim it. It would mean a lot to them to have it back, given all the times it logged on routes along the coast.

Brighton seafront near the Palace Pier about 2 months ago