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

Helpful resources for Columbia

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Columbia

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Found brooches near State House

I was out for a walk along Gervais Street this afternoon, around 2:30 PM, and I found a cluster of brooches tucked under a bench on the steps of the South Carolina State House. The pieces are silver-toned with small colored stones and floral enamel, spread across several pins. I’ve left them where I found them on the bench with a note, hoping the owner will recognize them and claim them. I know how special some of these pieces can be, and it felt right to try and reunite them with their owner.

State House steps, Gervais St 23 days ago

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Found: Driver's License in Columbia

I found a driver's license on the sidewalk in front of the Columbia Museum of Art around 2:30 PM today. The license bears a photo and name, and I picked it up to help reunite it with the owner. I’m posting here because I know how anxious you can feel when something like this is missing. The moment was quiet and sunny on Main Street, near the museum, and I kept the item safe until this page could help.

Main Street, in front of the Columbia Museum of Art about 2 months ago

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Found organizers near State House on Gervais Street

I found a bundle of plastic organizers near the State House on Gervais Street in Columbia around 2:45 p.m. on Thursday. They are the kind you use for office or craft storage, with several clear bins and labeled dividers, all a bit dusty from sun and wind. There is no name on them, but they look cared for and ready to be put back to use. If these belong to someone, I am glad to help bring them back to their rightful owner.

Sentimental

by the State House on Gervais Street about 2 months ago

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Found holiday decorations near the State House

I was taking a sunset stroll along Gervais Street near the State House around 6:45 p.m. on Tuesday when a dusty cardboard box rolled out of a storefront display and caught my eye. The box labeled Holiday Decorations held garlands, a tinsel strand, and a bright red bow that had escaped its packaging. It looked like someone hurried away in the chilly air, possibly during a quick errand. I picked up the box and posted here because I know how much those ornaments can mean to a family during the holidays.

near the State House on Gervais Street about 2 months ago

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Found navy knit scarf with initials AP near library

I found a navy knit scarf this afternoon around 4:15pm outside the Columbia Public Library on Broadway. It's a thick wool blend, about 60 inches long, with a small silver thread woven through it and a neat embroidered 'AP' initials in the lower corner. The tag inside reads 'Meraki,' and the scarf is in good condition with just a bit of pilling from wear. It clearly looks like a favorite that someone would miss, and I turned it in at the library's Lost and Found to help the owner get it back.

Columbia 2 months ago

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1TB Samsung T7 SSD with dragon sticker

I found a silver 1TB Samsung T7 portable SSD this morning around 9:15am. It has a small green dragon sticker on the top-left corner and a light coffee stain near the label, plus a matte finish that catches the light just right. I found it in the parking lot behind The District on Broadway in downtown Columbia, right by the campus shuttle stop. This is clearly a digital media drive—likely holding a video project or personal footage—and I’d love to get it back to the owner. If this sounds like your drive, send me a message and we’ll figure out a pickup.

Columbia 3 months ago