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

Helpful resources for Chillicothe

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Chillicothe

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Found puppies near Yoctangee Park, Chillicothe.

This morning around 11:15 a.m., I found two puppies wandering near Yoctangee Park in Chillicothe, muddy but friendly. One wore a blue collar with a bell, the other collarless and shy, and they followed me toward Market Street as I spoke softly. Two passersby stopped to help and a kid's family offered water, and I stayed with them until I felt sure they were not in immediate danger. I’m sharing what I found because I know someone is probably worried sick for those little ones and I hope they’re reunited soon.

Yoctangee Park, near Market Street, Chillicothe. 7 days ago

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Found pins near Yoctangee Park, Chillicothe

I found a small tin of pins lying in the grass behind the Riverside Arts Complex near Yoctangee Park this morning around 9:15. They look like a mix of enamel pins and a couple of safety pins that must have fallen off a bag. I gathered them up on a park bench by the entrance and pocketed them, hoping the owner would recognize their collection. If you’re missing pins with a heart charm and a tiny Ohio badge, they might be yours.

behind the Chillicothe YMCA on Water Street about 1 month ago

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Leopard gecko in terrarium found near downtown library

I found a small leopard gecko this afternoon around 4pm outside the downtown library on Main Street in Chillicothe. It's about 2 inches long, sandy yellow with irregular brown spots, and a chubby tail. It was in a clear plastic terrarium with a tiny heat lamp and a bit of shedding skin clinging to the side. A faint orange stripe runs along its back, and there’s a tiny chipped scale on the left hind leg. If this belongs to you, I’m glad to help—message me and we’ll arrange a safe meetup near Bridge Street.

Chillicothe 2 months ago

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Gold-tone pendant necklace with tiny heart charm

I found this gold-tone pendant necklace this morning around 9:15am behind the Coffee Cup on Paint Street, not far from the Chillicothe Public Library. The chain is about 18 inches and the heart pendant is roughly 8mm across with a brushed finish. On the back there’s a tiny engraving that looks like initials 'J.S.' and the lobster clasp shows a bit of wear. I picked it up hoping to help someone in town reconnect with it—if this is yours, describe the initials and where you last remember wearing it, and we can arrange a pickup.

Chillicothe 4 months ago

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Found black leather briefcase

I found a black leather briefcase this afternoon around 2:45pm outside the courthouse on Main Street in Chillicothe. It's a mid-sized case with gold hardware and a small dent on the bottom corner, plus a tan leather luggage tag with initials 'A.S.' Inside there’s a USB drive and a handful of papers; the zipper pulls have a tiny compass charm. If this is yours, shoot me a message here in the app and I’ll arrange a safe return.

Chillicothe 4 months ago

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Nintendo Switch OLED with neon Joy-Cons found

I found a Nintendo Switch OLED model this afternoon around 3:40 pm on the sidewalk outside the Chillicothe Public Library on Paint Street. It has neon red/blue Joy-Cons and a black dock with a white HDMI cable. The console looks clean, but there’s a tiny scratch on the left edge and a small fox sticker on the back that makes it easy to spot. I slipped it into a small pouch I carry for found stuff, just in case the owner comes by. If you’re the owner, tell me the approximate last played game and the first four digits of the serial to confirm it's yours.

Chillicothe 5 months ago