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

Helpful resources for Grand Island

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Grand Island

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Found gold-tone metronome with black base

I found a small gold-tone metronome with a black plastic base yesterday around 2:15pm in the parking lot behind the Grand Island Public Library on Locust Street. It's about 3 inches tall and in decent condition, with a tiny scratch on the glass and a red sticker on the bottom with the initials 'A.S.' I gave it a quick test ticking away when I tapped it, and it seems to work fine. I can imagine it mattered to someone practicing piano or a wind instrument, so I’d love to get it back to its owner. If this sounds like yours, send me a message and we can arrange a meet-up near the library.

Grand Island about 2 months ago

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Found missing teen near Grand Island Library

Found a teenage girl who appears to be a missing person around 4:30 this afternoon near the Grand Island Library entrance on North Street. She's about 5'1", wearing a bright red hoodie, black leggings, and scuffed white sneakers. Her hair is shoulder-length dark brown, and she has a pink backpack with a blue butterfly hairpin. She looked shaken and kept asking where her mom was; I stayed with her by the bike racks until library staff arrived to help. I really want to see her back with her family soon—she seems anxious and is likely in urgent need of her guardians.

Grand Island about 2 months ago

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Blue iPhone 12 Pro Max with pink cat sticker

I found a blue iPhone 12 Pro Max in a black silicone case with a pink cat sticker on the back. I found it this afternoon around 3:15 PM in the Beaver Island State Park parking lot off Grand Island Blvd. The phone's screen is cracked near the top left and there's a small dent on the bottom edge, but it powers on and shows a lock screen with a family photo. The wallpaper looks like a sunset over the river, which might help the owner identify it. If this is yours, describe the wallpaper or the sticker to confirm and we can arrange a pickup or return.

Grand Island 2 months ago

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Red nylon dog harness with blue paw-tag

I found a red nylon dog harness this afternoon around 3:15 pm behind the Grand Island Public Library on 2nd Street. It's a size small, with a bright blue paw-print tag hanging from the buckle that reads 'Rex'. The straps show a little wear, and there's a tiny snag near the chest buckle. If this belongs to you, I know it matters a lot—please get in touch so I can reunite Rex with his owner.

Grand Island 3 months ago

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Teak coffee table with glass top

I found a vintage teak coffee table this afternoon around 2:15 pm, sitting on the sidewalk outside the Grand Island Plaza on Grand Island Blvd near the elm tree by the bus stop. It’s about 4 feet long and 18 inches wide, with a clear glass top that shows off warm honey-colored wood underneath. The surface has a few light scratches and a small dent on the front edge, and the glass has a couple micro-scratches with one cloudy spot in the center. Under the glass there’s a faded label that reads 'Norwood Teak'—thought it might help the owner identify it. There’s a tiny wobble if you press one end because one leg feels a tad loose. If this sounds like yours, send me a message and we can sort out a pickup so it goes back where it belongs.

Grand Island 4 months ago

found A

Found: worn paperback travel guide

I found it this afternoon around 3:15pm on the sidewalk outside the Grand Island Public Library on 2nd Street, near the sculpture garden. It's a paperback travel guide with a bright orange cover, about 320 pages, and the spine is a bit creased. There’s a blue ribbon bookmark sticking out and a small Grand Island Public Library sticker on the inside cover. There are yellow highlighter markings in the margins about National Parks, which makes me think it belongs to someone who loves road trips. If this belongs to you, catch me in the app and I’ll meet you to hand it back.

Grand Island 6 months ago