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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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 days ago

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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 3 days ago

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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 13 days ago

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Christmas wreath with pinecones found near North Market

I found a handmade evergreen wreath this afternoon around 3pm on the sidewalk outside the North Market entrance on High Street in Columbus. It's about 18 inches across, with a bright red velvet bow and several pinecones, still in good shape though a bit dusty from the ground. There's a small brass snowflake pin and a care card from 'Lark & Co. Seasonal' tucked under the bow. It looks like a seasonal front-door decoration, probably from a home nearby. If this is yours, claim it in the app—happy to reunite it with its owner.

Columbus about 2 months ago

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Silver-tone hoop earrings with moon engraving

I found a pair of silver-tone hoop earrings this afternoon around 1:45pm behind the North Market on Market Street in Columbus. They're about 1.5 cm in diameter, with a tiny crescent-moon engraving on one hoop and a small blue sapphire-like bead on the other. They're a little tarnished from wear but polish up nicely, and the backs are standard post style. I'm posting here because I know these could be special to someone—maybe a gift or sentimental jewelry—and I'd love to get them back to their owner. If you've seen these or can confirm ownership by brand or engraving, please get in touch.

Columbus 3 months ago

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Blue Adidas size 5 soccer ball found near North Market

I found a blue Adidas size 5 soccer ball this afternoon around 4:15pm behind the North Market on Market Street in Columbus, OH. It’s blue and white, a bit scuffed on one panel, and the valve has a tiny red sticker with the initials 'JS'—nice little identifying detail. It still holds air and looks like it was used in a casual pickup game, nothing major broken. I’d love to get it back to its owner; if you think it’s yours, tell me the color details and the initials on the valve sticker to verify.

Columbus 3 months ago