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

Helpful resources for Flint

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Flint

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Found DVDs in Flint, MI.

Friday at 7:25 p.m., I was walking past the Flint Farmers Market entrance on 300 E Second Street when I found a black tote stuffed with DVDs. There were a mix of classics and a few newer titles, and a small note tucked among the discs. It looked recently dropped, so I left it with the market’s information desk to keep it safe until the owner claims it. Losing movies can be really frustrating, and it felt nice to help return a bit of someone’s favorite evenings.

near the Flint Farmers Market entrance on 300 E Second Street 28 days ago

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Found blue North Face puffer jacket

Found a blue North Face puffer jacket this afternoon around 3:15pm in the parking lot behind the Starbucks on Saginaw Street, downtown Flint. It's a men's medium, electric blue with a black zipper and a small white North Face logo on the left sleeve. The jacket looks clean overall, with a couple of faint scuffs on the cuffs and a bright orange zipper pull that makes it easy to spot. Inside the pocket is a faded sticker with the name 'Alex' in permanent marker. With winter coming, this blue puff is a staple, and I hope to reunite it with its owner—message me here if you think this might be yours and we can arrange pickup near the Starbucks on Saginaw.

Flint about 2 months ago

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Red leather coin binder with world coins

I found this red leather-bound Dansco-style coin binder stuffed with world coins this afternoon around 3pm in the parking lot behind the Flint Public Library on Saginaw Street. It's about 8x11 inches, with a worn spine and gold embossing that reads 'World Coins' on the cover. Inside are roughly 60 coins from the 1800s through the 1960s and a faded inventory card tucked into a sleeve, plus a small velvet pouch. The binder has a couple of unique marks: a tiny dent on the bottom-right corner and a sticky label inside that reads 'Property of PM' in faded ink. This really reads like a genuine collectors item—if you recognize it, I’d love to help get it back to its owner.

Flint 3 months ago

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Black JanSport backpack found near Genesee Valley Center, Flint

I found a black JanSport backpack this afternoon around 4:15pm in the parking lot behind Genesee Valley Center on S. Saginaw Street, near Riverbank Park in Flint. It’s in decent shape overall, with a slightly worn bottom corner and a bright orange zipper pull on the main compartment. There are two unique identifiers: a blue rocket sticker on the inside pocket and a small red thread loop near the top lid. Inside, there are a couple of spiral notebooks and a student ID, so I know it belonged to a student. I would really like to get it back to the owner.

Flint 4 months ago

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Red-eared slider turtle found near Flint River

I found a red-eared slider turtle this afternoon around 2:45pm near the Flint River trail behind the old GM plant off Saginaw Street. It's about four inches long, with an olive-green shell striped in yellow and a bright red patch behind each eye. The shell has a tiny nick on the left rear corner, and the right front claw shows a small scrape. I kept it in a breathable tote with a damp towel so it stays comfy while I look for the owner. If this sounds like your pet, please reach out—I’d love to reunite it with you.

Flint 4 months ago

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Teak mid-century coffee table with shelf

Found a teak mid-century coffee table this afternoon around 2:15pm in the parking lot behind the Genesee County Courthouse on S Saginaw Street, Flint. It's about 4 feet long, with a warm honey finish and a small drawer on the front. The surface has a few light scratches and a dent on the left front leg, but it's sturdy and in decent condition. There's a small label on the underside that reads 'Sunset Studio.' If someone is missing this, please get in touch—I’d be happy to return it to its rightful owner.

Flint 4 months ago