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

found N

Found bus tickets in Columbus

On Tuesday at 11:20 a.m., I was sitting on a bench outside the Columbus Metropolitan Library on Grant Ave when I spotted a crumpled stack of bus tickets peeking from a notebook. They were from several routes, some torn, some still clipped with a rubber band. I picked them up, thinking the owner must be anxious about a trip or a change of plans. I held onto them, hoping the rightful traveler will see this and reclaim them through the site.

by the North Market area, downtown Columbus 2 days ago

found J

Found wallet near Ohio & Long St

FOUND THIS WALLET LAYING ON THE GROUND NEAR OHIO AND LONG ST WHILE ON MY MORNING WALK. IF YOUR MISSING A WALLET PLEASE CONTACT THE EMAIL SO IT CAN BE RETURNED TO YOU!

Columbus about 1 month ago

found J

Phone found at park

PHONE FOUND AT PARK THIS MORNING, IF YOU LOST THIS PHONE, PLEASE EMAIL THE CONTACT SO THAT IT CAN BE RETURNED!

Columbus about 1 month ago

found J

Found travel bag near Scioto Mile

While strolling along the Scioto Mile near COSI this afternoon around 2:30 PM, I found a travel bag abandoned on the riverfront steps. It’s a black rolling suitcase with a red tag and a passport holder peeking out. Inside are clothes, a small itinerary folder, and a few travel documents. I’m not the owner, but I hope the person who lost it can claim it here and retrieve it through the site.

near COSI along the Scioto Mile 2 months ago

found D

Found item: 'Wild and Domestic' notebook

I was wandering through the North Market area in downtown Columbus this afternoon and found a small red notebook titled 'Wild and Domestic' on a bench near a bus stop at 4:20 p.m. today. The cover caught my eye, and the pages inside show a few doodles and a tiny reminder note. I’m not sure who it belongs to, but I’m glad it’s here and I hope the owner sees this listing.

near North Market, downtown Columbus 2 months ago

found D

Found document holders near North Market, Columbus

I was grabbing coffee near the North Market when I spotted two document holders left on a bench by the entrance around 11:45 a.m. One has a small corporate logo and a few loose receipts tucked inside; the other is plain black with a reinforced edge and a zipper that sticks sometimes. There wasn’t anyone nearby who seemed to be looking for them, so I picked them up and brought them here to help reunite them with their owner. I know how stressful it is to misplace important papers, and I hope this helps.

North Market entrance, Court Street 2 months ago