lostandfound.io
Lost

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 Devon & Cornwall? Handling it responsibly protects both you and the owner. Rules vary by location, but the principles are consistent.

  1. Make a reasonable effort to find the owner. Check for ID, contact details, or anything that identifies who it belongs to.
  2. 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.
  3. Hand valuables to the authorities. Report significant or high-value finds to the police non-emergency line for Devon & Cornwall; they'll log it and may issue a reference.
  4. Store it safely. Keep the item secure and unchanged while you try to return it.
  5. Post a found listing. Add a found-item listing for Devon & Cornwall with enough detail for the real owner to identify it — while holding back one verifying detail.

Helpful resources for Devon & Cornwall

Recent reports in Devon & Cornwall

found E

Found photographs near Plymouth railway station

While leaving Exeter St Davids station around 9:15 p.m. on Tuesday, I found a bundle of photographs lying on the pavement near the station entrance. They look like family photos from the 1980s, tucked in a faded album with a few loose prints. I slipped them into my bag and carried them toward the ticket hall, thinking someone must be worried about lost memories. If these belong to someone, I hope they’ll be reunited through the system; photographs like these deserve to be seen by the people in them.

outside Exeter St Davids station, near the taxi rank 16 days ago
found A

Navy blue handbag with gold hardware

Found a navy blue leather handbag yesterday around 3:15pm outside the Co-op on Fore Street in Newquay, Cornwall. It's a compact tote about 25cm wide by 15cm high, with gold hardware and a detachable strap, plus a little compass charm on the zipper. The front has a subtle white diagonal stripe that helps it stand out. Inside there’s a fabric lining, a pink lipstick lid, and a small cardholder with the initials 'A.L.' I’ll happily return it to its owner—send a message here and we can arrange a safe handoff after a quick check of the contents.

Devon & Cornwall about 1 month ago
found P

Found brown suede ankle boots with buckle

Found a pair of brown suede ankle boots this afternoon around 3:15pm, sitting on the pavement along Mayflower Street by the Barbican in Plymouth, Devon. They’re size 6, women's, branded Clarks, and they’ve got a distinctive brass buckle on the outer side with a faint blue stitch along the heel seam. The left boot is a touch darker than the right, and there’s a small scuff on the toe from wear. They were next to the bike racks by the cafe near the Mayflower Steps, so I figured someone might be missing them after a stroll along the waterfront. If these look familiar, send me a message and we can arrange returning them.

Devon & Cornwall about 1 month ago
found P

Le Creuset orange casserole found near Mayflower Steps

Found a Le Creuset 3-quart orange casserole dish this afternoon around 4:15 pm outside the Barbican Hall by Mayflower Steps in Plymouth, Devon, in the Devon & Cornwall region. It's in great condition overall, with the bright Marseille orange enamel and a small chip on the rim of the lid, plus a faint tomato stain on the interior. The bottom bears the classic Le Creuset stamp and 3 qt marking. It was resting on a bench by the pedestrianized area near the steps, tucked next to a reusable shopping bag. If this pan was a gift or holds sentimental value, please describe the chip and the stamp so we can reunite it with its owner.

Devon & Cornwall about 1 month ago
found P

Keys with green paracord and blue tag

I found a set of keys this morning around 7:50am in the car park behind the Eden Project in St Blazey, Cornwall. They are on a sturdy metal keyring with a bright green paracord loop and a blue enamel tag etched with the initials JT. There is a mix of home and car keys, plus a tiny flashlight keychain that rattles when shaken. I will hold onto them near the visitor center and can meet somewhere nearby or hand them to Lost & Found staff in the Cornwall area if someone claims them.

Devon & Cornwall about 1 month ago
found P

Medical alert bracelet found near Co-op, Barnstaple

Found this morning around 10:15am outside the Co-op on Fore Street in Barnstaple. It's a white medical alert bracelet with a red heart charm and a blue fabric band. The inside of the clasp is engraved with 'A. Singh' and there's a tiny medical symbol sticker on the back. It looks well cared for and clearly meant for everyday wear, so I figured it should go back to its owner ASAP. If this matches yours, I'm happy to meet in the Barnstaple Market Square or hand it over at the Co-op counter.

Devon & Cornwall 3 months ago