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

Helpful resources for Charleston

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Charleston

found A

Found travel adapters near City Market, Charleston

I found a small gray travel-pouch with multiple adapters under a bench along Market Street near the City Market entrance around 2:30 p.m. today in Charleston, South Carolina. The pouch is worn and the zipper is red, with 'Adapters' faintly printed on the front. Inside are several plug adapters, a USB-C cable, and a compact power strip—clearly someone’s travel kit. I know how frustrating it is to lose these before a trip, so I kept them together and handed them to the market’s security desk for safekeeping, in hopes the owner sees this soon.

near City Market entrance on Market Street 23 days ago

found A

Found JBL Bluetooth speaker near Market Street

I found a JBL Charge 4 Bluetooth speaker this afternoon around 2:15pm outside the Charleston City Market on Market Street, near the Waterfront Park entrance. It's charcoal gray, about the size of a palm, with a few scratches along the edges. The JBL logo is bright orange, and there's a small dent on the top-left corner plus a dog paw print sticker on the bottom. It still powers on and pairs with my phone, and there's a USB-C port visible on the side. If this belongs to you, I really want to help get it back – I know how important a good speaker can be after a long day downtown.

Charleston 2 months ago

found P

Found Harbor & Co. business card in Charleston

I found a slim, matte-black Harbor & Co. business card this afternoon around 2:15pm on Meeting Street near the Charleston City Market in Charleston, SC. It’s for Elena Rossi, Marketing Manager, with a gold anchor logo and the back embossed with the initials ERV. There’s a faint coffee stain and a tiny crease along the bottom edge, but the contact info is still legible: [email protected] and 843-555-0124. This seems important for someone’s work; I’d love to return it to Elena or the person who lost it. If this sounds like yours, I can meet near Market Street or East Bay Street for a quick handoff in Charleston, SC.

Charleston 3 months ago

found P

Blue Nike swim shorts with orange drawstrings

I found a pair of blue Nike swim shorts, men's size M, this afternoon around 2:15pm. They’re a bright cobalt blue with an orange drawstring and a small white Nike swoosh on the left leg. There’s a tiny gray anchor patch near the right hem as a unique identifying feature. I spotted them near the City Market on Market Street, Charleston, just a few steps from Waterfront Park; they’re in good shape with only light wear. If these look like yours, drop a note here in the app so we can arrange a quick meetup and return them to you.

Charleston 3 months ago

found P

ID Card on blue lanyard found near Market Street

Found an ID card this morning around 7:20am in the parking lot behind the Charleston City Market on Meeting Street. It's a rectangular plastic card with a photo on the left and a navy blazer in the image, on a light blue lanyard with a small metallic clip. There's a tiny coffee stain on the lower right corner and a faint scratch along the edge; the name reads 'Alex Kim' with the title 'IT Support' and a logo I can't quite place. I know how stressful it is to lose a badge, so I’m hoping to help bring it back to its owner—if you recognize the name or the logo, drop me a note here.

Charleston 4 months ago

found A

Framed abstract watercolor painting found near City Market

Found this framed abstract watercolor painting this afternoon around 2:15 pm outside the Charleston City Market on Meeting Street, right by the entrance arch. It's a 12x16 inch piece in a light oak frame with a small dent on the bottom edge. The painting features teal and gold swirls on a creamy background, with a splash of cobalt blue near the top. On the back there's a sticker from a local studio called 'Coast & Canvas — Charleston' and the artist's initials 'JL' penciled in the corner of the matting. I know losing something like this can be really upsetting, so if this is yours, please DM with a description of the back label or those initials. Happy to coordinate a safe pickup near Waterfront Park.

Charleston 4 months ago