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

Helpful resources for Charlotte

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Charlotte

found P

Found JBL Charge 4 portable Bluetooth speaker, blue

Found a JBL Charge 4 portable Bluetooth speaker this afternoon around 2:15 pm in the parking lot behind Bank of America Stadium on Mint Street in Charlotte. It's a blue speaker with a black front grill, about the size of a lunchbox, and in generally good condition with a small dent on the top edge and a faint scratch near the logo. There's a blue silicone bumper around the rim and a white sticker on the bottom that reads 'Bea'—likely the owner's nickname. It looked recently used, and I can imagine someone stuck in traffic wanting to jam out again. If this is yours, drop me a note here so we can arrange a quick pickup or exchange.

Charlotte about 2 months ago

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Blue Nike running shoes, size 9, found near stadium

I found a pair of blue Nike running shoes this afternoon around 3:15pm behind Bank of America Stadium on S Mint St in Uptown Charlotte. They're size 9, and the left shoe has a small scuff near the toe while the right shoe shows a faint white sole crease from a rain run. The fabric is a bright electric blue with reflective white swooshes that catch the streetlights. Inside the tongue, there's a tiny red heart stitched near the label, a unique identifying detail I noticed right away. They look gently worn, like someone may have kicked off their jogs after a tailgate or late workout. If you recognize them, I'd be happy to return them to you.

Charlotte about 2 months ago

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Found US passport uptown Charlotte

Found a US passport this afternoon around 2:30pm in the parking lot behind the Epicentre on Trade Street, Uptown Charlotte. It's a standard blue passport with the gold eagle crest, tucked inside a navy leather passport holder with JL embossed in gold on the corner. There’s a light crease on the bottom-right corner of the cover, and the back page has a faint water stain from rain earlier. I can text or hand it off, and I’ll gladly work with the owner to verify identity and reunite it—someone’s travel plans could be on hold without it.

Charlotte about 2 months ago

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Black Michael Kors crossbody handbag with gold hardware

I found a black Michael Kors crossbody sitting on the ledge beneath the parking deck behind the NASCAR Hall of Fame on 5th Street, Uptown Charlotte, this afternoon around 2:45 PM. It's a pebble leather bag, medium size, with gold-tone hardware and a detachable strap. There's a small coffee stain near the bottom corner and a tiny snag in the interior lining, but overall it's in decent shape. A silver heart-shaped charm dangles from the zipper pull, and the interior pocket lining is a bright burgundy that makes the logo pop when you peek inside. If this is yours, tell me the exact brand tag inside and the contents you remember so we can verify and get it back to you.

Charlotte 2 months ago

found A

Grey Nike running shoes with neon laces

I found a pair of grey Nike running shoes this afternoon around 3:15pm outside the Starbucks on Tryon Street near the EpiCentre in Uptown Charlotte. They're men's size 9, with a breathable grey mesh upper, white midsole, and a distinctive neon green laces plus a bright orange pull tab at the heel. The left shoe has a small scuff near the toe and a faint scratch along the Nike swoosh, but overall they're in good shape. If these belong to you, please reach out—I'm hoping to reunite them with their owner.

Charlotte 2 months ago

found A

Red paperback found near Uptown light rail

Found a red paperback titled 'The Midnight Library' by Matt Haig this afternoon around 2:15 pm near the 3rd Street Convention Center light rail station in Uptown Charlotte. The cover is a little worn, with a couple of creases and a small sticker residue on the back. Inside, there's a yellow sticky note with the initials 'KB' and a blue ribbon bookmark peeking from the pages. A dog-eared page near chapter 7 marks a favorite line, so it feels cherished. If this belongs to you, drop me a note here and we can arrange a safe meetup near the station.

Charlotte 3 months ago