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

Helpful resources for Cleveland

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Cleveland

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Found: stamps near Public Square, Cleveland

This morning, around 11:40 AM, I found a small red binder filled with stamps on the sidewalk near Public Square in Cleveland, by the Terminal Tower. The stamps span several countries, some with wear but many still vivid, tucked in clear sleeves. The binder has a cracked cover and a few loose sheets that flutter when the wind. I hope the owner sees this so they can reclaim their collection.

Public Square, near Terminal Tower 11 days ago

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Found organizers near Public Square, Cleveland

While leaving the West Side Market around 2:05 PM today, I found a plastic tote labeled Organizers sitting on a bench near Public Square. The set looked new but with a few scuffs from the pavement. Inside were several clear acrylic drawer inserts, a few metal trays, and a stack of labels. I set them on the bench and hoped the owner would step forward, knowing how much effort it takes to stay organized. If you misplaced these, they might be your method to calm the chaos of daily life.

Near Public Square, by the Arcade 19 days ago

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Tan MK tote found near West Side Market

I found a tan Michael Kors tote this afternoon around 3:45pm, sitting on a bench outside the West Side Market on West 25th Street in Cleveland. It's a medium-sized pebbled leather bag with gold-tone hardware and a small MK charm on the zipper pull. The bag shows a light scuff on the bottom corner and the beige lining has a couple faint pen marks. Inside the pocket there’s a blue lipstick case and a receipt from a local cafe—nothing that identifies the owner, but it felt like it’s in daily use. If this bag belongs to you, tell me the exact contents or the brand tag to verify and we can arrange a safe pickup.

Cleveland 4 months ago

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Found beagle mix with red collar near Public Square

I found a beagle mix this afternoon around 3:15 pm wandering near Public Square, downtown Cleveland, by the fountain and the Terminal Tower area on East 6th Street. It's a medium-sized pup, tan and white with a white blaze on its chest and a small gray scar on its left hind leg. It wears a bright red nylon collar and a blue bone-shaped ID tag that reads 'Nova.' The dog is friendly but a bit jittery, sniffing around and leaning into me when I spoke softly. I did not see a chip or any other ID on it, and I really want to help reunite it with its person. If this sounds like your dog, reply here so we can get you and Nova back together.

Cleveland 5 months ago

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Black 256GB SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD

I found a black SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD (256GB) this afternoon around 2:15pm in the parking lot behind the West Side Market on West 25th Street. It's in decent condition, a few light scratches along the bottom edge, and there’s a tiny red cat sticker on the back. It came in a black neoprene sleeve with the USB-C cable coiled underneath. The label has handwritten initials ‘M.S.’ on it, which could help the owner identify it. I’m hoping to return it to its rightful owner—if this sounds like yours, send me a message and we can arrange a pickup near Public Square.

Cleveland 5 months ago

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Wireless earbuds with cracked white charging case

I found these wireless earbuds this afternoon around 2:15 pm outside Tower City Center near the Cleveland Public Library on Euclid Ave. They’re in a white charging case with a visible crack along the lid. The earbuds have small green silicone tips and there’s a faded sticker on the back of the case that reads 'CLE Meet 2024.' They look relatively new and in good condition, and I’d love to get them back to their owner—I know how important daily gear like this can be. If you recognize them, tell me what else was in the box (maybe a USB-C cable) and describe the sticker to claim.

Cleveland 6 months ago