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

Helpful resources for Eastern CT

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Eastern CT

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Found a small toy train near New London Union Station.

On a chilly Tuesday, around 4:12 p.m., I was standing near the platform railing at New London Union Station when I spotted a small toy train wedged between a bench and the wall. It is painted red with a tiny coal car and wheels that still gleam in the sun. I picked it up and paused, thinking how easily a kid could lose something so cherished. The bright colors brought back memories of weekend rides with my own grandpa, and for a moment I felt protective, like I had found something precious waiting to belong somewhere. I left it on a chair by the information booth, hoping the rightful owner will see this post and reclaim it.

near the Amtrak platform at New London Union Station 5 days ago

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Found Devices in Eastern CT

I found a group of devices on a bench outside the Mohegan Sun entrance in Uncasville around 7:15 PM last Friday. There was a laptop sleeve, a tablet, and a charger tucked into a small backpack. I checked for any ID but found nothing obvious, so I turned them in to casino security to hold for the owner. It felt good to do something helpful after a long day, and I'm hoping the rightful owner sees this soon.

Near Mohegan Sun, Uncasville about 1 month ago

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Found brooches on State Street

I found a small collection of brooches on the sidewalk outside the Garde Arts Center on State Street in New London at about 4:30 p.m. yesterday. The pieces are charming and clearly cared-for: two gold-tone pins with enamel flowers, plus a tiny dolphin-shaped pin. They’re a bit tarnished, but otherwise intact, as if someone wore them for years and then tucked them away. I gathered them and kept them safe, hoping the owner will see this listing and recognize the pieces that used to be their daily accessories.

in front of the Garde Arts Center on State Street about 2 months ago

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Found sheet music near New London Public Library

Yesterday around 5:20 pm I spotted a bundle of sheet music under a bench outside the New London Public Library on State Street. The pages are creased, and a pencil tempo marking shows on the first page, with a red cover sheet that reads 'Rehearsal Pieces.' Some pages include small markings for a local gig at the Garde Arts Center next month. I tucked the sheets into a sleeve in my bag so they wouldn't get ruined in the drizzle. It felt like a small beacon of someone’s practice and passion. I hope the owner will see this and recognize their music soon.

outside the New London Public Library steps about 2 months ago

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FOUND: Holiday Decorations in Eastern CT.

I found a box of holiday decorations behind a shop on Main Street in Groton, Eastern CT, Connecticut, United States around 6:20 PM on Friday. The box includes a green wreath, a string of multicolored lights, and a few silver ornaments, all wrapped in tissue with a name tag still legible. It reminds me how much care people put into making the season bright, and how something left behind can carry a little of someone’s home. I’ve kept the decorations safe and posted here so the owner can reclaim them through the site.

near Groton Town Hall about 2 months ago

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FOUND Microwaves in Eastern CT

On Monday at 11:40 AM, while I was walking near Mystic Seaport in Mystic, CT, I spotted two microwaves sitting behind a trash bin by a building on Water Street. They looked untouched, so I picked them up and carried them to the security desk at the nearby community center to keep them safe until the owner could claim them. It felt like a small bit of luck in a busy day, and I’m glad I could help. If the rightful owner sees this, I hope they recognize them and claim them through the site.

near Mystic Seaport Museum, Water Street entrance 2 months ago