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

Helpful resources for Columbus

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Columbus

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Framed blue-and-gold abstract print

I found a framed blue-and-gold abstract print this afternoon around 3:15pm on the sidewalk outside the North Market's south entrance, along Vine Street in Columbus. It's a 12x16 inch print in a white wood frame with a few light scuffs, and the artwork features swirling cobalt blue with metallic gold accents. The back has a Nocturne Studio label from Columbus and a small handwritten date '2022.' The glass is intact and the frame shows minor wear. I know someone in Columbus would miss this—if this belongs to you, reach out with details about the back label or the approximate last place you saw it, and we can arrange a pickup near the Short North or Columbus Commons.

Columbus about 2 months ago

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Blue hardcover poetry book with fox sticker

Found a blue hardcover poetry book this afternoon around 3:40pm outside the North Market entrance on Spruce Street in Columbus. The spine is a bit worn and the back cover has a small fox sticker, plus a handmade leaf-shaped bookmark tucked between pages. Inside the front cover is a penciled name: Mira Kapoor, along with a note that says 'Columbus Art Walk' in the margin. It looks well-loved and it seems important to someone; I know how it feels when a small book with notes matters. If you’re missing this, please get in touch—I’d really like to get it back to you.

Columbus 3 months ago

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Charcoal gray Nike hoodie found near North Market, Columbus

I found a charcoal gray Nike hoodie this afternoon around 4:15pm in the parking lot behind the North Market on Market Street, Columbus. It's a size L, soft fleece, with a white Nike swoosh on the chest and a small coffee stain near the pocket. The drawstrings are white and the zipper works smoothly; there are a few light fuzzies from being carried around. If this hoodie belongs to you, I'm happy to return it; feel free to message me here or email [email protected].

Columbus 3 months ago

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Blue Giro cycling helmet found near Nationwide Arena

I found a blue Giro cycling helmet this afternoon around 2:15pm near the bike racks outside Nationwide Arena in the Arena District, Columbus. It's a medium size with a matte blue shell, white vent openings, and a black adjustable strap. There's a small pink sticker inside with the initials 'PK' and a faint scratch on the front from a light fall. It still looks practically new, and it smells like fresh plastic from the packaging, so I expect the owner would be relieved to get it back. If this is yours or you know who might have lost it, drop me a message here and we can figure out a pickup near the arena.

Columbus 6 months ago

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Found a pair of brown tortoiseshell glasses in a case on a picnic table at Schiller Park.

I found a pair of brown tortoiseshell glasses in a Case on the picnic table at Schiller Park in Columbus. They look fairly new and have no scratches on the lenses. If they belong to you, just shoot me a message and we can arrange a time for you to pick them up.

Schiller Park, Columbus, Georgia, USA 8 months ago

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Found bright blue and yellow windbreaker jacket with unique stitching on the back at the playground in the local park.

I found a bright blue and yellow windbreaker jacket on the playground at the local park in Columbus. It was late afternoon, and nobody was around to claim it, so I'm hoping to find the owner. It has no tags but has unique stitching designs on the back. If you're missing this jacket, please let me know!

Playground, Local Park, Columbus, Georgia, United States 8 months ago