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

Helpful resources for Gainesville

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Gainesville

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Found black guitar capo with red grip

I found a black guitar capo with a red grip this afternoon around 3:45 pm behind the Reitz Union on the UF campus, near the campus bookstore and the bus stop. It's about 2.5 inches long, metal, with a few minor scratches from being jostled in a bag. There's a small panda sticker by the clamp and the initials 'A.M.' engraved along the side. I figured it probably belongs to someone who plays in a band or goes to open mic night—hoping to reunite it with the right person. If this is yours, email me at [email protected] and we can arrange a pickup near the campus bookstore.

Gainesville about 1 month ago

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Found young woman near downtown Gainesville

I found a young woman this afternoon around 2:45pm near the downtown Gainesville Library, at the corner of Main Street and 2nd Avenue, by the CVS. She's in her early 20s, about 5'4" to 5'6", with shoulder-length brown hair and round glasses. She wore a teal windbreaker, black leggings, and white sneakers, and carried a bright teal backpack with a peace-sign patch. I also spotted a small compass tattoo on the inner left forearm and a silver hoop earring. This is a Missing Persons listing—I'm hoping to help reunite her with family; she seemed a bit shaken and asked me to help reach a sister’s number. If you recognize her or know how to reach her family, reply to this listing and I’ll connect you.

Gainesville about 2 months ago

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Found keys with red tag and blue keychain

I found a set of keys this morning around 8:45am in the parking lot behind the downtown Gainesville Public Library on Main Street. The bundle includes a silver house key on a battered black leather fob, a brass car key, and a few other metal keys. A bright red plastic tag stamped with 'Mom' is attached, and there’s a small blue silicone keychain with a white star. One key has a noticeable dent on the bow, making the whole set easy to identify. The keys look a bit dirty from rain, but they still feel usable. I’d love to get them back to their owner—if these are yours, please message me here and we’ll figure out how to reunite them.

Gainesville 2 months ago

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White ceramic mug with blue floral pattern found near UF

I found a white ceramic coffee mug this afternoon around 2:15pm outside the Reitz Union, near the Food Court entrance on the UF campus. It's about 3.5 inches tall with a blue floral pattern circling the middle and a small chip on the rim. There’s a tiny sticker on the bottom with the initials 'A.P.' and a faint coffee stain on the interior. It looks like it was a daily mug, and I figured someone would miss it, so I'm hoping to help get it back to its owner. If this mug is yours, reply in the app and we can arrange a pickup near Library West.

Gainesville 4 months ago

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Blue plush dragon with orange wings

I found a blue plush dragon with orange wings this afternoon around 3:45pm outside the Walmart on Archer Road in Gainesville. It’s about 12 inches tall, super soft, with a tiny white star stitched on its left wing and a pale gray belly. The toy has a small yellow tag near the foot that says 'Playtime Favorite' and it’s a bit wrinkled from sitting on the curb. I picked it up because it looked lonely and maybe someone dropped it while rushing in. If this is yours, give me a detail about the tag or the star on the wing and I’ll help you get it back.

Gainesville 6 months ago

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Blue TravelEase neck pillow with teal stripe

I found this blue memory-foam neck pillow this afternoon around 2:15pm on the sidewalk outside the Reitz Union on University Ave in Gainesville. It's a TravelEase neck pillow, royal blue fabric with a teal stripe along the seam, and a small red luggage tag with the initials 'MS' attached. The cover is clean and it's still squishy, not worn much, so I think someone just dropped it while heading to class or the bus. I know it's something travelers rely on, and it would mean a lot to get back to its owner—message me here and we can arrange a quick meetup near the UF campus.

Gainesville 6 months ago