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

Helpful resources for Fort Wayne

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Fort Wayne

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Found two dog leashes near Promenade Park, Fort Wayne

I was walking along the riverfront near Promenade Park around 5:40 p.m. on Tuesday when I found two dog leashes lying together behind a bench. One leash is blue with paw prints, the other red with stripes. There wasn’t a tag on either, so I tucked them into my bag and kept an eye out for someone calling them. I’d love to reunite them with their owner and I hope this helps the right person find them.

near Promenade Park fountain 7 days ago

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Found kittens in Fort Wayne

I was walking along Jefferson Boulevard by the Allen County Public Library around 9:15 p.m. yesterday when I spotted two tiny kittens huddled behind a dumpster near the side entrance. They looked scared but healthy, mewing softly as the streetlights spilled onto the pavement. I brought them home, kept them warm, and fed them, hoping to find their family. If these two belong to someone, please reach out through the site so they can be reunited.

near the Allen County Public Library, Jefferson Park 7 days ago

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Found radios near Promenade Park, Fort Wayne

On Friday at about 4:15 p.m., I found a pair of radios lying on a bench near Promenade Park in downtown Fort Wayne. They’re older models, one with a cracked dial and the other with frayed cords, stickers peeling from the backs. I waited around for a few minutes and asked a couple of passersby, but no one claimed them, and it looked like they’d been there for a while. It felt hopeful to think the owner might be nearby, and a bit sad knowing someone might worry about them missing.

near Promenade Park, downtown Fort Wayne about 2 months ago

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Found iPhone 12 Pro near Parkview Field

I found a black iPhone 12 Pro this afternoon around 4:15pm, lying on a bench near the Parkview Field entrance off S Harrison Street in Fort Wayne. It’s in a blue OtterBox case with a red heart sticker on the back and has a small crack along the bottom edge. The screen is still responsive, and the wallpaper shows a golden retriever—easy to spot if you recognize your pup. I tucked it into my jacket pocket and kept an eye out, hoping to reunite it with its owner because these devices can be really important for work and memories.

Fort Wayne 3 months ago

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Found Nintendo Switch with neon Joy-Cons

I found a Nintendo Switch this afternoon around 3:15pm outside the Grand Wayne Convention Center entrance on Jefferson Blvd in Fort Wayne. It's in a black console with neon red and blue Joy-Cons, a gray dock, and a small blue carrying case with a phoenix sticker. The screen has a faint scratch near the top-right corner, and the left Joy-Con has a tiny dent on the edge—little details that could help identify the owner. I'm hoping to get it back to its owner since stuff like this matters a lot; if this might be yours, drop me a message and we can meet nearby the convention center to swap it back.

Fort Wayne 4 months ago

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Large black Samsonite suitcase with blue star tag

I found a large black Samsonite rolling suitcase this afternoon around 3:30pm behind the Grand Wayne Convention Center on West Jefferson Boulevard, downtown Fort Wayne. It's in decent condition, with a few scuffs on the corners and a wheel that squeaks a bit, but the zipper still works and the latch is solid. A bright blue luggage tag with a white star is attached to the zipper pull, and the inside lining has a subtle floral pattern. There's a small panda keychain clipped to the zipper that could help identify the owner. If this sounds like yours, shoot me a note with the tag detail or the panda keychain and we can arrange a safe return.

Fort Wayne 5 months ago