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

Helpful resources for Edinburgh

Recent reports in Edinburgh

Found earphone case and charger found G

Found earphone case and charger

Jesebang Earphone case box charger Found on North Bridge Edinburgh on Saturday afternoon 13 June 2026

Edinburgh 11 days ago
Found walking stick in The Meadows toilets found O

Found walking stick in The Meadows toilets

Found a walking stick in the new toilets block in The Meadows.

Edinburgh 28 days ago
found Z

Black metronome with white dial

I found a small black Seiko metronome this afternoon around 3:15pm outside the Usher Hall on Lothian Road, Edinburgh. It's about 10 cm tall, with a glossy plastic shell and a white dial that sticks a bit when you turn the wheel. On the bottom there's a faded sticker with the initials 'ZA' and a tiny red dot sticker marked 'M1'—super distinctive if you spot it among a busker's gear. It still ticks when nudged, clearly used recently by someone who practices here. I know it probably belongs to a local musician or student, and I’d be glad to return it to its owner—please get in touch if this sounds like yours.

Edinburgh about 1 month ago
found A

Red paperback mystery found near Scott Monument

I found a red paperback mystery this afternoon around 2:45pm, lying on the pavement near the Scott Monument on Princes Street, Edinburgh. It’s a roughly 350-page thriller, paperback with a creased spine and a slightly faded red cover. Inside, there’s a blue ribbon bookmark with a tiny fox emblem peeking out from page 112, and a small coffee stain on the back cover. It looks well-loved, which is why I’m hoping to reunite it with its owner because it might be a favorite. If you recognize it, drop me a message and we can arrange a pickup.

Edinburgh about 2 months ago
found K

Grey tote bag with Celtic knot keychain found

I found a grey canvas tote bag this afternoon around 2:30pm, lying on the benches in Princes Street Gardens by the Waverley tram stop. It's about 12 by 14 inches, with a faint coffee stain on the front pocket and a blue striped lining that you can see when you open it. Inside there's a small notebook titled Edinburgh Sketchbook and a blue Celtic knot keychain clipped to the zipper. The bag looks used but intact; it seems important to someone and I’d love to get it back to its owner.

Edinburgh about 2 months ago
found P

Found navy parka with faux fur hood

I found a navy blue North Face parka with a faux fur hood this afternoon around 3pm, left on the ground near the Scott Monument on Princes Street, just outside Waterstones. It's a size M and overall in decent condition, though there’s a small snag on one sleeve near the cuff and a couple of salt marks from the street. Inside the left chest pocket, there's a small white embroidery of the initials 'LJ' on the inner label. If you think this might be yours, drop me a message and we’ll arrange a pickup near there.

Edinburgh 2 months ago