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

Helpful resources for Chicago

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Chicago

found O

Found: Passports near Millennium Park

I found a set of passports on the ground outside Millennium Park, near the Cloud Gate statue, around 9:15 a.m. this morning. I was walking to coffee when I spotted them lying there, creased but intact, hopeful somehow. It gave me a heavy, hopeful feeling—these matter a lot to someone, and I hope they get back to their owner soon.

near Cloud Gate, Millennium Park, Chicago 3 days ago

found J

Lost iPhone earbuds

found iphone ear buds. tell me where you lost them

Chicago about 1 month ago

found O

Found Postcards near Millennium Park

On a sunny Saturday afternoon, around 3:20 PM yesterday, I found a small bundle of postcards lying on a bench near Millennium Park, by the Art Institute's Michigan Avenue entrance. They are bright and a little worn, with photos of the city and a few handwritten notes on the backs. I picked them up and scanned the backs, hoping to see a name or a clue, but the owner was not nearby. The moment felt like glancing into someone else's memories of Chicago, and I wanted to do the right thing. If these belong to you, I hope this helps you reconnect with a piece of your day in this city.

Sentimental

near Millennium Park, Chicago, IL about 2 months ago

found J

Found paintings near Millennium Park

I was walking along Michigan Avenue near Millennium Park in Chicago at 8:30 p.m. last Friday when I spotted two paintings tucked behind a bench, wrapped in brown paper and taped up loosely. They look like landscapes, with one signed faintly on the back. I carried them to a nearby security desk by Grant Park and waited to see if anyone would return for them, hoping the owner is close by today. If you recognize these works, they’re safe and waiting for you in a public spot until the rightful owner claims them.

Near Cloud Gate (The Bean), Millennium Park 2 months ago

found M

Found Handheld and Console near Millennium Park

On Saturday at 4:15 PM, I found a Handheld and Console on a bench by the Cloud Gate statue in Millennium Park, Chicago. The device is a matte black handheld game console with a blue protective case, and a tangled white USB cable sits on top. I looked around, but no one seemed to be looking for it, so I tucked it into my jacket and brought it to the park information desk, hoping the owner will recognize it here. It felt rewarding to do the right thing and help someone reclaim a small piece of their day.

Near Millennium Park, by the Bean 3 months ago

found B

Found person seeking family to reunite

FOUND: Where did he come from? Where did he go? Where did he come from? Poly-no-cotton-eyed Bee. @squishables, I found someone and am looking for their home. His (or her?) family can contact me with these details and we can ask him (or her) if it's accurate. How old am I? Where did I get lost at? What time did I get lost? How many tattoos and piercings do I have?

Chicago 4 months ago