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

Helpful resources for Buffalo

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Buffalo

found G

Found Bytech earbuds in damaged case.

Black "Bytech" earbuds, both still in the case, though the top of the case is missing. There is some kind of white fluid in the bottom part of the case, sand I think? Found along the boardwalk in Canalside. So if these happen to be yours, I've got 'em safe for you, so drop me a line and we'll work out a way to get them home.

Buffalo 8 days ago

found L

Gold-tone hoop earrings with pearl drops

I found a pair of gold-tone hoop earrings with tiny freshwater pearl drops this afternoon, around 3:15 pm, on the sidewalk outside the Buffalo Central Library on Lafayette Street. The hoops are about 1 inch in diameter, and one ear hoop has a tiny engraving on the inside that looks like 'LR'; the pearls are clean white and the overall look is chic but slightly scuffed from the walk downtown. They’re in decent condition — the clasps grip firmly, just a little wear on the metal from daily use. If these belong to you, reply here and we can arrange a safe pickup near the library, or meet at the Lafayette Square area.

Buffalo 2 months ago

found P

Blue Yamaha snare drum with dragon sticker

I found a blue Yamaha snare drum with a dragon sticker on the shell, a dent on the rim, and a black nylon drumstick bag tucked beneath. I came across it this afternoon around 2:15pm in the parking lot behind the Anchor Bar on Main Street in Buffalo. The drum looks well used but still in decent shape, and the dragon sticker makes it really distinctive. If this belongs to someone, I’m happy to return it to its owner, especially since it clearly has gig history and a story behind it.

Buffalo 3 months ago

found P

Gold-tone hoops with pearl charm

Found a pair of gold-tone hoop earrings with a small pearl charm this afternoon around 2:15pm in front of the Anchor Bar on Main Street in Buffalo. They’re about 1.2 cm hoops, with a delicate leaf engraving along the outer edge and a single cream-colored pearl dangling from one hoop. The finish is a touch brushed rather than shiny, and I noticed a tiny scratch near the clasp on the earring. I picked them up and tucked them safely in a small pouch, hoping to reunite them with the owner; if they’re yours, tell me the last place you wore them and the engraving detail to verify.

Buffalo 4 months ago

found P

Found hand-painted ceramic vase near Canalside

Found this morning around 11am on the sidewalk outside the Canalside entrance on Main Street in Buffalo. It's a small hand-painted ceramic vase, about 8 inches tall, glossy cobalt blue with gold swirls and a white floral accent along the rim. There are a couple tiny chips on the rim and a faint signature on the bottom that reads 'K. Lin'. It looks well cared for and clearly belonged to someone, so I want to help reunite it with its owner.

Buffalo 4 months ago

found A

Yellow cockatiel with gray wings, leg band

I found a yellow cockatiel this afternoon around 4pm in Buffalo, NY, near the Elmwood Village bakery on Bidwell Parkway. It's a medium bird, bright yellow with gray wings and a white face, about the size of a small pigeon, and it has a tiny red leg band marked with 'A12'. The bird seemed a bit stressed but curious, and I kept a gentle hold while I looked for an owner nearby. I brought it to the Buffalo Humane Society as a safe step, but I wanted to post here in case the owner recognizes it by the leg band. If it's yours, describe the leg band number and any unique marks, like a blue feather on the tail.

Buffalo 5 months ago