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

Helpful resources for Finger Lakes

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Finger Lakes

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Found paintings in Finger Lakes, NY

Yesterday around 6:15 p.m., I found a stack of paintings tucked behind a bench near Steamboat Landing by the Ithaca Farmers Market, in the Finger Lakes region of New York. The canvases vary in size, some bright landscapes and a few abstract pieces, with worn frames and a stray dab of yellow paint on the edge. I felt a mix of curiosity and concern about the owner, imagining how much these might mean to someone who spent afternoons with them. I kept them safe in my car and hope this post helps reunite them with their rightful owner.

near the Ithaca Farmers Market, Steamboat Landing 8 days ago

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Hoops found along lakefront in Finger Lakes

I was walking the lakefront path by Cass Park in Ithaca, in the Finger Lakes region, around 11:45 a.m. this morning when I spotted a pair of hoop earrings lying by a bench overlooking Cayuga Lake. I picked them up and they look a bit worn, with a small scratch on one hoop and a faded engraving on the inside. There was no note or ID, so I kept them with me and thought I would post here in case I can reunite them with their owner. I hope whoever lost them sees this and knows they are safe with me for now.

Reward

Cass Park overlook, Ithaca, NY 12 days ago

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found CDs on bench near Ithaca Commons

I was tidying up after a quick stretch break when I found a stack of CDs on a bench outside the Ithaca Commons around 3:45 p.m. on Saturday. They looked like someone had left them behind, and they aren’t mine. The collection includes indie rock and a few older pop CDs, with a faded blue case and a sticker from a local music shop. I’m hoping the owner sees this and claims them through the site; I just picked them up to keep them safe in case someone returns for them.

Bench outside Ithaca Commons 3 months ago

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Found wireless earbuds near Ithaca Commons

I found a pair of wireless earbuds this afternoon around 4pm in front of a cafe on West State Street, near the Ithaca Commons in the Finger Lakes region. They come in a matte black charging case with blue silicone ear tips. The case has a small dent on the corner and there's a white sticker on the lid with the initials 'LR'. They seem lightly used and powered on when I checked briefly, but I couldn't connect to a phone. If these belong to you, I’d be happy to help reunite you with them.

Finger Lakes 3 months ago

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Blue Nike running shoes with neon laces found near Ithaca

Found a pair of blue Nike running shoes, size 9, this afternoon around 3pm in front of the Ithaca Commons near East State Street. They’re a little scuffed on the toes, with neon green laces that pop against the dark blue fabric. The left shoe has a small coffee stain on the tongue, and the insoles smell faintly of new rubber. I picked them up near the benches by the bookstore and figured someone might be worried if their sneakers disappeared during the busier lunch crowd. If you’re missing them, I’ll happily hand them over to the owner—they look well-loved but still usable.

Finger Lakes 4 months ago

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Gray North Face backpack found near Ithaca Commons

Found a gray North Face backpack this afternoon around 3:15pm near the Ithaca Commons on Green Street. It's a medium-sized bag, about 18 inches tall, with a red embroidered patch that says Trail Crew on the front pocket. The bottom has a few scuffs and there's a faded blue water-bottle holder on the side. Inside, I spotted a spiral notebook, a couple of pens, and a USB-C cable; plus a campus map and a sticky note with a name that isn't mine. I know how important a bag like this can be for someone, so I’m hoping to reunite it with the owner.

Finger Lakes 6 months ago