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

Helpful resources for Fairbanks

Recent reports in Fairbanks

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Found: Passports in Fairbanks, Alaska

While walking home from downtown Fairbanks near the Morris Thompson Cultural Center around 7:15 p.m. on Friday, I spotted a passport folder resting on a bench by the bus stop. Inside were two passports, their covers dark and official-looking, with pages slightly creased from the cold. I tucked them into my jacket pocket for safekeeping, hoping the rightful owner will recognize this post and retrieve them. It felt strange yet important to hold someone else’s travel documents, but I knew I had to do the right thing.

Outside Morris Thompson Cultural Center, downtown Fairbanks 14 days ago
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Found violin in black case near Morris Thompson Center

I found a violin this afternoon around 4:15pm outside the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center on 2nd Ave in Fairbanks. It’s a 3/4 size violin with a warm sunburst finish, tucked in a black hard case with a worn chin rest and a frayed bow tucked inside. Inside the case there’s a label that reads 'Stentor Student II.' There’s a small dent on the lower bout, but the strings look taut and it still plays nicely when tuned. It seems clearly valued, and I can imagine it’s important to its owner—if this is yours, reply here so we can arrange a safe handoff in Fairbanks.

Fairbanks about 1 month ago
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Found Apple MacBook Air in blue sleeve near Fred Meyer

I found a MacBook Air 13-inch in a blue neoprene sleeve with a moose sticker on the lid. I found it this afternoon around 3:40 pm in the parking lot behind the Fred Meyer on College Road in Fairbanks. The laptop seems to be in decent shape—screen is clean, keyboard responsive, battery holds a charge when plugged in. There’s a small dent on the bottom left corner and the moose sticker is the lid’s only decoration. I didn’t see any owner contact info on the outside, so I’m posting here in case someone is missing it. If you can describe a couple of details (charger brand, or the wallpaper on the home screen), I’ll arrange a safe hand-off.

Fairbanks about 1 month ago
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Hand-painted ceramic vase with blue glaze

Found a hand-painted ceramic vase yesterday around 4pm near the Morris Thompson Cultural Center on 2nd Ave, downtown Fairbanks. It's about 6 inches tall, cylindrical, with a crackled sky-blue glaze and tiny white speckles. There's a small maker's mark on the bottom that looks like 'AK'. The rim has a tiny chip on the left side. It was just sitting on the sidewalk, so I picked it up to keep it safe. I know someone is missing a piece like this and would be relieved to get it back. If this sounds like yours, message me here with details about the mark and size to claim it.

Fairbanks about 2 months ago
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Found vintage coin collection near Cushman Street, Fairbanks

I found a small vintage coin collection this afternoon around 4:15 pm behind the Fairbanks Public Library on Cushman Street. It's tucked in a battered black leather album with a red velvet inner flap and a brass clasp that sticks a bit. Inside are about 30 coins from the early 1900s, mostly copper and silver-tone, with a couple shiny exceptions; I spotted a 1914 Indian Head cent and a gleaming 1954 silver quarter, plus some nickels and a few commemorative pieces. There's a tiny brass magnifier clipped to the inside cover and a handwritten note stained with age that reads 'To Dad.' It looks well-loved, like a genuine collection, and it seems to have sentimental value. If you think these belong to you or someone you know, I want to help get them back.

Fairbanks about 2 months ago
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Beige fleece throw blanket with initials patch

I found this beige fleece throw blanket this afternoon around 2:15pm behind the Fairbanks Public Library on Cushman Street, near the bus stop. It's a large, 60 by 80 inch blanket, in good condition with no tears or pilling. There's a tiny fabric patch sewn into the corner with the initials 'L.M.' and a faded red reindeer embroidery along the edge. It seems sentimental, not just a random blanket, so I figured someone might be missing it. If this sounds like yours, message me with the initials or describe the patch and we can arrange a quick handoff.

Fairbanks about 2 months ago