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

Helpful resources for Grand Forks

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Grand Forks

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Found sheet music in Grand Forks

While strolling along DeMers Avenue by the Grand Forks Public Library this afternoon, around 4:20 pm, I spotted a crumpled stack of sheet music lying on the sidewalk, the pages fluttering in a light fall breeze. It’s a small red-covered folder with pencil notes sketched in the margins and a few sharp markings that caught my eye. I tucked it into my jacket pocket to keep it safe and scanned the street for a name or a case, but there wasn’t one. If this belongs to you, I’m glad to help get it back through the site.

outside Grand Forks Public Library on DeMers Ave 9 days ago

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Found organizers near Grand Forks Public Library

I found these organizers in the Grand Forks Public Library lobby at 3:15 p.m. today. They're a set of translucent plastic boxes, three pieces, with blue and green lids, tucked under a chair near the reference desk. They look recently left behind, as if someone dashed to return a book and forgot them in the rush. I'm posting them here because they seem useful, and I'd rather they reach the owner than sit unused in a staff drawer.

Grand Forks Public Library lobby 13 days ago

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Found brooches in Grand Forks

I found two brooches on the sidewalk outside the Empire Arts Center in Grand Forks around 4:20 pm on Saturday. One is a small floral brooch with clear rhinestones, the other a blue enamel bird with a tiny ruby center. They looked like they held a story or sentimental value, so I kept them safe and posted here in hopes of reuniting them with their owner. If these belong to you, reach out through the site so we can match them to the right person.

outside the Empire Arts Center 24 days ago

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Found airline item in Grand Forks

After the game at the Alerus Center, around 8:15 pm on Friday, I found an airline ticket sleeve tucked under a bench by the main entrance. It clearly belonged to someone else, probably a traveler in a hurry. I kept it safe and posted this listing in case the owner sees it and can reconnect with their trip. The sleeve bears a few mileage stickers and a corner torn from handling, but I won't go into more details here—hopefully the right person will find it.

near the Alerus Center parking lot 24 days ago

found A

Silver Yamaha flute with engraved initials

I found a silver Yamaha flute this afternoon around 3:15pm in the parking lot behind the Ralph Engelstad Arena on 2nd Ave in Grand Forks. It’s a standard student model, silver-plated, with a few scratches along the lip plate and a tiny dent on the foot joint. The case is black with a red velvet interior, and there’s an engraving on the headjoint that reads 'J. Carter'. The instrument seems in playable condition and well cared-for. I know how important a flute can be—especially if it’s a student’s instrument—so I’d really like to reunite it with its owner. If you can describe the engraving or bring proof of ownership, I’ll hand it over.

Grand Forks 2 months ago

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Blue glucose meter kit

I found a small digital glucose meter kit this afternoon around 3:15pm, left on a bench outside the UND Bookstore on 2nd Ave in downtown Grand Forks. It's in a light blue plastic case with a white lid and a tiny yellow sun sticker on the lid. Inside there are a few test strips and the meter itself looks gently used but functional. The lid has a faint crack from a drop last week. If this belongs to you, message me here and we can arrange a quick meetup near Gore Plaza to get it back.

Grand Forks 3 months ago