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

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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 11 days ago

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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 20 days ago

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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 2 months ago

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Black 28-inch Samsonite suitcase with red tag

I found a black 28-inch Samsonite hard-shell suitcase this afternoon around 3:15pm on Adams Street near Union Station in Chicago. It's a bit scuffed on the corners but otherwise in decent shape, with two small stickers on the lid from a local soccer club. There’s a bright red luggage tag with the initials 'M.T.' and a blue fabric strap inside the main compartment that should help identify the owner. If this belongs to you, I’d love to help get it back—let’s meet downtown or figure out safe delivery.

Chicago 2 months ago

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Green budgie with blue tail and leg band 24

I found a small green budgie this afternoon around 4:15pm near the Navy Pier entrance on Grand Ave and Lake Shore Drive. It has a bright yellow face, blue tail feathers, and a blue leg band marked with the number 24. The bird seems tame and chirps a bit when I talk to it, so I stayed close and kept it on my forearm for a minute to calm it down. If anyone recognizes this bird, I’m happy to help reunite it with its owner through the app—it's clearly someone's cherished pet and looks well cared for.

Chicago 2 months ago

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Gray Patagonia parka with fur hood found near Millennium Park

I found this gray Patagonia parka this afternoon around 3:15pm, lying on the pavement just outside the Millennium Park entrance on Columbus Drive. It's a men's size Large, with a soft gray shell and a black fur-trimmed hood that really pops in the crowd. The inside label shows 'Patagonia, Men's L' and there’s a tiny pine-tree patch sewn near the left pocket that’s easy to spot. I checked the pockets for a name tag, but nothing turned up. If this is yours, drop a note on the listing and we can arrange a safe pickup near Millennium Park.

Chicago 3 months ago