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

Helpful resources for Hampton Roads

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Hampton Roads

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Black Lab mix with red collar, found in Chesapeake

I found a medium-sized black Labrador mix wandering behind Chesapeake Square Mall on George Washington Highway this afternoon around 3:15pm. It wears a bright red collar and a blue plaid bandana with a small silver tag. There's a heart-shaped white patch on its chest and one ear that flops a bit when it tilts its head. The dog seemed friendly but anxious, probably lost and scared, and it kept looking for people. If you know the owner or recognize this pup, tell me so we can reunite them.

Hampton Roads 2 months ago

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Cream king-size duvet cover with navy piping

I found a cream king-size duvet cover with navy piping this afternoon around 4:15pm in the parking lot behind the Norfolk Premium Outlets on N. Military Highway in Norfolk. It's soft microfiber, and the bottom-right corner has a small pine tree embroidery in forest green, plus a tiny snag along the hem and a faint coffee stain along the top edge. It looks gently used, and I figured someone might be missing it and would be really relieved to get it back. If this sounds like yours, we can coordinate a simple pickup near that area.

Hampton Roads 3 months ago

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Found black 37-key MIDI keyboard

I found a black 37-key MIDI keyboard controller this afternoon around 4:15pm in the parking lot behind the Waterside District on Waterside Drive, Norfolk. It's compact, roughly the size of a small laptop, with a matte black plastic shell and white keys. There's an orange sticker with the number 42 on the back and a small dent on the top-left edge. It's clearly an electronic instrument, and it looks like someone uses it daily for practice. I didn’t see any power supply with it. If this belongs to you, it's easily recognizable, and I’d love to get it back to its owner, because music gear like this means a lot to people who rely on it.

Hampton Roads 3 months ago

found A

Navy blue North Face puffer jacket

I found this navy blue North Face puffer jacket yesterday around 4pm in the parking lot behind the Oceanfront, near the 24th Street entrance in Virginia Beach. It's a men's medium, lightly worn with a few pills on the sleeves and a small scuff on the bottom hem. The hood is lined with light gray fleece and there's a tiny white North Face logo on the chest. Inside the left pocket sits a small fabric patch with the initials 'A.R.' and a tag that reads 'Medium.' If this jacket belongs to you, please reach out so we can arrange a safe pickup; it clearly meant a lot to someone, and I’d love to help reunite it with its owner.

Hampton Roads 3 months ago

found A

Blue Omron BP monitor with teal penguin zipper pull

I found a compact Omron digital blood pressure monitor this afternoon around 2:15pm in the parking lot behind the Town Center area near Barnes & Noble in Virginia Beach. It’s in a navy blue fabric case with a gray display, and the cuff is blue. The zipper pull has a teal penguin charm—pretty unique. The monitor looks lightly used and clearly cared for. If this is yours, I’d love to get it back; it has practical value for keeping up with health and I’d feel better knowing you have it again.

Hampton Roads 4 months ago

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Keys on blue lanyard with brass ship charm

Found a set of keys this morning around 9:15am in the parking lot behind the MacArthur Center in Norfolk, Hampton Roads. There’s a blue nylon lanyard with about 6-8 keys and a small brass ship charm; there’s also a black USB drive on a separate ring. One key has a bright green plastic tag with 'APT 4' scribbled in black Sharpie. The lanyard is faded from sun and the whole thing looks a bit worn but functional. I’d be glad to get them back to their owner—if the details line up, we can arrange a pickup at a nearby public spot.

Hampton Roads 6 months ago