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

found M

Found shopping bags in downtown Flint

I found these shopping bags this morning around 11:05 a.m., near Court Street and Second Avenue in downtown Flint, by the riverfront. Inside were a few groceries and a tote with a local grocery store logo; nothing valuable, but clearly someone’s day was disrupted by losing them. They looked like they belonged to someone who needed them back, and I’d feel relieved if the owner sees this and claims them.

Sentimental

near Court Street & Second Avenue, downtown Flint 13 days ago

found R

FOUND: Student ID on Saginaw St, Flint

This morning, around 9:40 a.m., I found a student ID lying on the sidewalk outside the University of Michigan–Flint along Saginaw Street. The card bears the name Riley Chen and a campus photo, so I’m hoping it helps the owner find their way back. I picked it up and turned it in here so the rightful owner can reclaim it. If this sounds like yours, please check in and verify the details on the post.

outside UM-Flint on Saginaw Street 19 days ago

found M

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 2 months ago

found A

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 3 months ago

found P

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 4 months ago

found A

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 5 months ago