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 Florence / Muscle Shoals? 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 Florence / Muscle Shoals; 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 Florence / Muscle Shoals with enough detail for the real owner to identify it — while holding back one verifying detail.

Helpful resources for Florence / Muscle Shoals

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Florence / Muscle Shoals

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Found travel adapters in downtown Florence, near the Courthouse.

Found travel adapters after dinner, outside the Florence-Lauderdale County Courthouse on Court Street, around 7:45 p.m. last Friday. A small zip pouch lay under a bench and inside were several adapters of different styles, a few with worn labels. I imagine a traveler sorting cables in a hotel room after a long flight, trying to plug in a phone and laptop at once. It felt like a small, honest moment to return something useful to someone far from home. If these are yours, this listing might help you reconnect with them.

outside the courthouse steps on Court Street 10 days ago

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Found black Anker Soundcore mini speaker

I found a small black Anker Soundcore mini Bluetooth speaker this morning around 10am in the parking lot behind the Walmart Supercenter on Florence Boulevard. It's about 2 inches tall and 2.5 inches wide, with a matte finish and a tiny dent on the corner. There's a sticker of a purple cat on the side and a faint coffee spill on the top from yesterday. It pairs with phones and has a satisfying crackle when the bass hits; I picked it up and kept it safe, hoping to reunite it with its owner.

Florence / Muscle Shoals 29 days ago

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Found red Le Creuset skillet with floral rim

I found a red Le Creuset 26 cm skillet this afternoon around 2:15 pm in the parking lot behind the Big B Coffee on North Wood Avenue in Florence. It's a glossy enameled cast-iron pan, about 10 inches across with a slightly worn black knob and a small chip on the rim. The inside is clean with a few minor utensil marks, and there’s a tiny sticker that says 'Made in France' peeling off near the logo. I spotted it near the bike racks and figured someone might be missing a kitchen gem. If this belongs to you, I’d be happy to hand it over and return it to you.

Florence / Muscle Shoals about 1 month ago

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Red knit scarf with snowflake pattern

I found this red knit scarf this afternoon around 3:15pm near the Courthouse Square on Court Street in downtown Florence. It’s about 60 inches long, with white snowflakes woven into the knit and a small coffee stain near the fringe—clearly a winter piece. The scarf feels handmade, with chunky yarn and a gentle stretch, perfect for the chilly Florence evenings. If the owner sees this, I’m glad to help reunite it with you—it’s a cherished seasonal item and I hope it finds its way back soon.

Florence / Muscle Shoals about 2 months ago

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Found stainless steel watch with red dial

I found a stainless steel watch with a red dial lying on the curb outside the Lauderdale County Courthouse on Court Street in Florence, AL, this afternoon around 2:40 pm. It's a mid-size case about 42mm, with a black leather strap that's showing some wear and a small scratch along the bezel near 3 o'clock. The back is engraved with the initials 'A.J.' and there's a tiny star emblem near the brand mark—easy to spot if you know what to look for. It appears to keep good time, so I figured someone might be looking for it after Saturday's farmers market. If this is yours, email me at [email protected] and we can confirm details to reunite you with it.

Florence / Muscle Shoals 2 months ago

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Silver sapphire ring found near Court Street

I found a silver ring this afternoon around 3:15 pm on the sidewalk outside the Courthouse Square on Court Street, downtown Florence. It's a slim band with a small round sapphire in a clean bezel. On the outer edge there's a tiny crescent moon engraving, and inside the band someone scratched 'A.J.' It's in decent condition, with a few micro-scratches from wear. I know it's probably meaningful to someone, and I’d love to return it to its owner. If you think this might be yours, drop me a note and we’ll figure out how to get it back.

Florence / Muscle Shoals 3 months ago