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

Helpful resources for Harrisonburg

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Harrisonburg

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Found Breeds near Court Square

This morning around 10:20 a.m., I was near Court Square in downtown Harrisonburg when I found a binder labeled Breeds lying on a bench. The binder held dog-breed profiles, adoption papers, and a few vet contact numbers tucked inside. It looked like someone had put it down during a morning meet-up, and it struck me how important that information is to a rescue or a family. I picked it up, kept it safe, and posted it here so the owner can reclaim it through the site.

Court Square, downtown Harrisonburg 3 days ago

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Found appliances left on a porch, Harrisonburg

On a chilly Thursday evening around 7:30 p.m., I found a bundle of appliances left on a porch near Court Square in Harrisonburg. It looked like a mismatched set—a dusty blender, a toaster, and a compact microwave—stacked neatly in a blue tote, with a stray leaf sticking to the cord. The sight felt oddly personal, like a late-night move had gone wrong. I brought them to my porch on West Market Street and waited, hoping the owner would recognize them. It gave me a small sense of purpose in the quiet that settles over downtown after sunset.

near Court Square, downtown Harrisonburg 8 days ago

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Found toasters in Harrisonburg, VA

While cleaning out the volunteer kitchen at Court Square on Saturday around 11:10 a.m., I found two toasters tucked behind a stack of coffee mugs in a dusty corner. They looked recently used, with a few burnt crumbs and a coffee ring on one handle. I turned them in to the Harrisonburg campus Lost & Found so the owner could claim them. I hope this helps the person who misses their mornings as much as I miss mine when something as simple as a toaster goes missing.

Court Square, near Harrisonburg Downtown Library about 1 month ago

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Found silver MacBook Pro with Yukon sticker

I found a silver MacBook Pro this afternoon around 2:30pm near Court Square on Main Street, right by the old courthouse steps. It’s in a black neoprene sleeve and has a purple 'Yukon' sticker on the lid plus a small coffee stain on the bottom edge. The charger is with it—a white Apple brick and a braided cord, with a tiny fray near the plug. If you recognize these details, message me here on the app and we can arrange a safe meet-up near Court Square to return it.

Harrisonburg 2 months ago

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Keys on red paracord with Toyota fob

Found a set of keys this morning around 9:15am in the parking lot behind Court Square on East Market Street in downtown Harrisonburg. They’re on a bright red paracord lanyard with a small silver carabiner. There’s a Toyota key fob and a couple of older house keys; one key has a peeling yellow 'Do Not Duplicate' sticker and a tiny scratch on the fob. The paracord shows a bit of fraying near the clasp, and there’s a small green enamel leaf charm snagged on one of the rings. I’m happy to return them to the owner—if these are yours, I’ll make sure they get back safely.

Harrisonburg 3 months ago

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Navy neck pillow with red tag

I found a navy blue memory-foam neck pillow this morning around 9:15 behind the CVS on Main Street, Harrisonburg. It’s in decent shape, a bit travel-worn, with a small red fabric loop and a faint white sticker that reads 'Flight Crew' on the side. It carries a light coffee stain near the edge, nothing major, and it still smells faintly of travel. I figured it might belong to someone who was on the go, so I’m hoping to get it back to its owner. If this sounds like yours, send me a message in the app and we can meet up around Court Square or the CVS parking lot on Main Street to return it.

Harrisonburg 5 months ago