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 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 10 days ago

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Gray plush cat with lime-green ribbon

Found a gray plush cat about 12 inches tall behind the Mystic Aquarium parking lot this afternoon around 1:45pm. It has soft fur, white paws, bright green eyes, and a lime-green ribbon tied around its neck. There’s a small white patch on the belly and a tiny snag on the tail from a tumble outside. It clearly belongs to a kid who loves it, so I’d be glad to hand it back to the owner in Eastern CT.

Eastern CT about 1 month ago

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Beige Herschel tote bag found near Union Station

I found this beige Herschel tote bag this morning around 9:15am near New London Union Station on Water Street. It's a medium-sized canvas tote, about 14 by 16 inches, with a bright red lining and a small dark brown leather patch that reads 'Herschel.' One handle has a blue scarf tied to it, and there's a luggage tag with the initials M.R. tucked inside, along with a travel umbrella and a water bottle. The bag looks gently used but everything inside seems safe. If this bag belongs to you, send me a note and we can figure out how to get it back to you.

Eastern CT 2 months ago

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Dark blue US passport with gold seal, found

I found a dark blue US passport this afternoon around 4:15 pm near the Stop & Shop parking lot on Route 1 in Groton, Eastern CT. It's the standard passport book, with the gold seal on the front cover and a few creases along the spine from being tucked away in a pocket. There's a coffee ring on the back cover, and inside cover I spotted a small sticker from a local cafe. It seems well-used but intact, and I really want to help get it back to its owner because passports are important. If this is yours, please reach out with identifying details about the photo page or the cafe sticker so we can verify.

Eastern CT 2 months ago

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Framed watercolor print in gold frame

I found a framed watercolor print this afternoon around 2:30pm in the parking lot behind Mystic Aquarium on Coogan Boulevard in Mystic. It's a 12x16 inch piece, matted in a cream border and housed in a gold-tone wooden frame that's got a few nicks along the edge. The painting shows a misty harbor with a couple of sailboats and a lighthouse, signed 'K. Rivera' in the lower right corner. The back has a Mason Gallery New London label and a note that says 'Harbor Lane, 2019.' I figured someone might be missing it, so I’m posting here in case the owner recognizes it.

Eastern CT 3 months ago

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Red-eared slider turtle found near Groton Town Beach

Found a red-eared slider turtle this afternoon around 2:30pm in the parking lot behind the Stop & Shop on Route 27 in Groton, in Eastern CT. It's about 3 inches long, with an olive-green shell that has darker markings and a bright yellow stripe along its neck. The most distinctive feature is a red patch just behind each eye, plus a small nick on the bottom edge of the shell near the tail. It seemed a bit stressed, so I kept it in a damp tote for safety. If you’re missing a pet like this, I’d love to help reunite it with its owner.

Eastern CT 4 months ago