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

Helpful resources for Grand Rapids

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Grand Rapids

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Found compact MIDI keyboard near Rosa Parks Circle

I found a compact MIDI keyboard this afternoon around 2:15pm on the sidewalk outside the Rosa Parks Circle statue in downtown Grand Rapids, right at the corner of Monroe Ave NW and Pearl St NW. It's a black Akai MPK Mini MKII with 25 keys and 8 red pads, USB cable still attached, and a small blue sticker on the back that reads 'Mason's Studio'. There are a few light scratches along the top edge and a tiny coffee stain near the USB port, but otherwise it's in decent shape. It obviously belongs to someone into making music, and I’d really like to return it to its owner. If this looks familiar, please reach out.

Grand Rapids 2 months ago

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Medical alert bracelet with engraving found near Calder Plaza, GR

I found a medical alert bracelet this afternoon around 2:15pm near Calder Plaza in downtown Grand Rapids, by the fountain and the bike racks. It's a silver-tone bracelet with a small blue enamel heart charm and a tag engraved with the name 'A. Patel' plus 'Allergy: Penicillin.' The bracelet shows normal wear but is in good condition. I know this could be really important for someone who needs it, so I’d love to help get it back to its owner—if you recognize it, send me a message and we can arrange a safe handoff.

Grand Rapids 2 months ago

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Cream Le Creuset 5-qt casserole found

I found a cream Le Creuset 5-quart casserole dish this afternoon around 2:45pm behind a coffee shop on Fulton Street, near the Grand Rapids Public Museum. It's in pretty good shape overall, with a couple of small scratches on the enamel and a tiny chip on the lid rim. The exterior looks glossy cream, the lid bears the Le Creuset logo, and there's a blue silicone sleeve on the handle that I can remove. It feels sentimental to imagine someone missing a dish that might have been a family heirloom or a go-to for Sunday dinners. If this is yours, shoot me a message at [email protected] so we can arrange pickup nearby.

Grand Rapids 3 months ago

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Found leopard gecko in glass terrarium

I found a juvenile leopard gecko this afternoon around 3:15pm wandering near the back parking lot of the Meijer on 28th Street SE in Grand Rapids. It was in a small plastic tote with a taped lid, beside a glass terrarium with a heat lamp, a fake plant, and reptile substrate. The gecko is vivid orange with white speckles and a pale cream belly, about 4 inches long including the tail. It looked healthy but a little dusty from being outside. There’s a tiny chipped scale on the tip of its left hind toe and a small blue spot under its chin that helps identify it. It seemed curious and not panicked. I’m keeping it safe for now, hoping to help reunite it with its owner. If you recognize this reptile, please message me. I’m in Grand Rapids and can meet at a public spot to return it.

Grand Rapids 3 months ago

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Sunburst ukulele with panda sticker

I found a small sunburst ukulele this afternoon around 2:15pm behind the Grand Rapids Public Library on Library Street, near Rosa Parks Circle. It's a Kala soprano ukulele, in nice shape with a green fabric strap still attached and a panda sticker on the back. There's a tiny nick along the edge of the body and a bit of fret wear, but it still sounds and plays pretty nicely. If the owner sees this, reach out here and we can arrange a safe meetup to return it—I'm sure it means a lot to someone.

Grand Rapids 5 months ago

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Found black North Face backpack near the Grand Rapids Farmers Market containing a water bottle, notebook, and pens.

I found a black North Face backpack near the Grand Rapids Farmers Market. It was sitting alone by one of the stalls around noon on Saturday. The bag has several pockets and contains a water bottle, a notebook, and a few pens inside. If anyone can describe it or knows who it belongs to, please get in touch!

Grand Rapids Farmers Market, Grand Rapids, MI, USA 8 months ago