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

Helpful resources for Eastern Montana

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Eastern Montana

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FOUND: Adapters near Fort Peck Dam, eastern Montana

Hi, I’m Lucas Hayes. I found these adapters this morning around 9:15 a.m., along the Missouri River by the Fort Peck Dam Visitor Center on US-2 in eastern Montana. A small pile of USB-C and micro-USB adapters lay beside a backpack on a bench by the trail. They looked recently dropped, and I could imagine someone traveling through the plains, charging devices between stops. I tucked them into a small pouch I carry and kept them in sight, hoping the owner will see this post and claim them soon.

Fort Peck Dam Visitor Center, US-2, eastern Montana 6 days ago

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Found organizers near the county fairgrounds

FOUND: I found these organizers this afternoon, around 3:22 p.m., beside the east entrance of the Eastern Montana County Fairgrounds. It’s a black desk organizer with three compartments, a pencil cup, and a sticky notepad. They looked like something someone uses at a busy desk—maybe a teacher or a local business volunteer who was helping at the fair today. I set them on a bench and watched them for a while as the crowd thinned out, just to be safe. Losing something that keeps a day organized can be really stressful, so I’m hoping the owner will recognize them here on the site.

near the east entrance of the Eastern Montana County Fairgrounds 14 days ago

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Found Montana state ID cards near Miles City library

I found two ID cards this afternoon around 2:15pm on the steps outside the Miles City Public Library on Main Street, Eastern Montana. They are standard credit-card size and in good condition, not bent. One is a Montana state driver's license with a blue border and a subtle buffalo hologram; the other is a college student ID on a small red lanyard with a coffee stain on the back. I picked them up to keep them safe and really hope the owner sees this soon.

Eastern Montana 2 months ago

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Gray fleece hoodie found near Rimrock Mall

Found a gray fleece hoodie this afternoon around 3:40 pm outside the main entrance of Rimrock Mall on 27th Street in Billings. It's a medium, charcoal gray with a bright red drawstring and a small embroidered mountain logo on the chest. The fabric is soft but a bit pilled along the cuffs, suggesting it's been worn in Montana winters. If you recognize it and can share a detail like a name tag or the exact brand, I’ll make sure it goes back to you.

Eastern Montana 3 months ago

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Small brass compass with leather strap

I found a small brass compass with a dark brown leather strap this morning around 11:15am on the MSU Billings campus, tucked under a bench by the library along University Drive. It's about 1.5 inches across, with a warm brass patina and a tiny compass rose etched on the lid. A faded green nylon thread loop is still attached, and the glass face has a light scratch but still looks usable. I left it on the bench in case the owner comes back this afternoon, hoping it finds its way home. If this sounds like yours, share a couple distinguishing details and I’ll get it back to you.

Eastern Montana 3 months ago

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Blue hardcover mystery novel, dog-eared pages

I found a blue hardcover mystery novel this afternoon around 2:15pm near the Rimrock Mall entrance on 20th Street in Billings, MT—a small city in Eastern Montana. It's a hardcover edition of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, with a black and gold spine and slightly dog-eared pages from being read a bunch. On the inside front cover there's a tiny pine-tree sticker and a pencil note that reads 'Lena Hart' in neat handwriting. A coffee ring marks the top edge, and someone tucked a faded receipt between pages 210 and 211. If this sounds like yours, drop me a line and we can figure out a pickup.

Eastern Montana 3 months ago