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

Helpful resources for Eastern Panhandle

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Eastern Panhandle

found S

Found student ID near Martinsburg Amtrak Station.

I found a student ID on the ground along South Queen Street near the Martinsburg Amtrak Station around 6:15 p.m. last Friday. The card isn’t mine, and I picked it up hoping to help reunite it with its owner. There are a few scratches on the photo, and the school logo is visible but difficult to read from a distance. I turned it in to the site hoping the rightful owner will claim it soon; hopefully the campus name helps you narrow who it belongs to. If this rings a bell, please check the item on the site for details.

South Queen Street near Martinsburg Amtrak Station 1 day ago

found G

Found: Holiday Decorations in Martinsburg area

I wandered the streets around the Martinsburg Amtrak Station in the Eastern Panhandle around 4:40 PM today when I found a sturdy box of holiday decorations lying on the brick sidewalk. The contents included red garland, string lights, and a small ceramic Santa figurine, all neatly bundled as if someone had just hurried off. It looked like someone was rushing to prepare for an evening gathering, and I could feel how easy it would be to forget a few trimmings in the rush. I brought the box to the site and hoped the owner would see this post and recognize the items.

near the Martinsburg Amtrak Station 4 days ago

found A

Found equipment for various sports in Eastern Panhandle

On Tuesday around 6:45 p.m., I found a worn duffel bag tucked behind the benches near the Martinsburg Amtrak Station in the Eastern Panhandle. The bag bulged with gear: a baseball glove, a tennis racket, shin guards, and a water bottle. It looked well-used, like it belonged to a local club or a teen headed to practice. I brought it to the Martinsburg Police Department lost-and-found, hoping the owner sees this listing soon. Losing equipment is rough before a game, and I want to help reunite it with its owner as quickly as possible.

near the Martinsburg Amtrak Station, Martinsburg about 1 month ago

found P

Found glossy travel magazine near Martinsburg CVS

I found a glossy travel magazine this afternoon around 2:15pm in the parking lot behind the CVS on North Queen Street in Martinsburg. It's a bright teal-covered issue called Wanderlust Weekly, with a lighthouse photo on the cover and a coffee ring on page 3; the spine is a bit creased from being stuffed in a bag. Inside, there's a small sticker on the front with the initials 'A.R.' and a pencil note in the margin that says 'Aug 2024', which could help identify the owner. It seems like a light personal read that someone was really into, and I’d love to see it go back to its rightful owner, especially since it looked casual but meaningful to them.

Eastern Panhandle 2 months ago

found P

Gold-tone drop earrings with crystal accents

Found a pair of earrings this afternoon around 2:45pm in the parking lot behind the CVS on North Queen Street in Martinsburg, which sits in the Eastern Panhandle. They’re small gold-tone drop earrings, about 3/4 inch long, with clear crystals that catch the light. One earring has a tiny star charm dangling from the bottom; the other is a plain hook with a subtle sparkle. They’re in decent condition, just a faint scratch on the metal near the clasp. They feel like they could be a gift or have sentimental value, so I’m trying to reunite them with their owner. If these are yours, drop me a message here and we can arrange a quick meetup near the Martinsburg Library on Queen Street.

Eastern Panhandle 3 months ago

found P

Framed abstract painting, orange-blue palette

I found a framed abstract painting this afternoon around 2:15pm behind the antique shop on West German Street in Shepherdstown. It's an 18x24 inch acrylic on canvas with a bold orange and cobalt blue palette, housed in a matte-black frame that has a small scratch on the lower-right corner. The back has a label reading 'Lina Rivera, 2019' and a tiny coffee ring mark along the bottom edge—unique clues that might help identify the owner. It's in good condition overall, just detached from its original hanging wire. If this looks like yours, drop a line and we can figure out a safe way to reunite you.

Eastern Panhandle 4 months ago