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

Helpful resources for Hickory / Lenoir

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Hickory / Lenoir

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Found student ID near LR University, Hickory

Yesterday around 5:40 pm, I was walking outside the Lenoir-Rhyne University Student Center in Hickory and spotted a student ID card lying on the brick path near the quad. The photo shows a student, and the name and major are visible on the card. I kept it safely in my pocket for a moment while I looked around, hoping to spot someone who might claim it. It’s clearly important to the student, and I hope it finds its way back to them. If this sounds like yours, please check the listing and reach out through the site.

Lenoir-Rhyne University Student Center, Hickory 18 days ago

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Penguin Classics orange paperback found with blue bookmark

I found a well-worn Penguin Classics orange paperback this afternoon around 4:15pm, tucked behind the downtown Hickory Farmers Market on 1st Ave NW. It's about 1/2 inch thick, with a creased spine and a blue feather-shaped bookmark sticking out from page 72. There's a small coffee stain along the right edge, and inside the front cover someone wrote 'For Lily – 2019' in faded blue ink. It feels sentimental - like it was a gift or something someone cherished. If this is yours, drop me a note here and we can arrange a pickup so it gets back to its owner.

Hickory / Lenoir 30 days ago

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Brooklinen queen duvet cover with blue bird embroidery

I found a Brooklinen queen duvet cover with a small blue bird embroidery near the bottom corner this afternoon around 2:45pm, in the parking lot behind Green Street Coffee on Main Ave in Hickory. The cover is ivory-white, soft to the touch, and in good shape aside from a light wrinkle from sitting on the pavement. The blue bird embroidery is a distinctive feature that should help the owner recognize it quickly. If this is yours, please send a message through the app with a quick description of the embroidery and size, and we can arrange pickup.

Hickory / Lenoir about 1 month ago

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Found black JBL Bluetooth speaker near stadium

I found a black JBL Bluetooth speaker this afternoon around 3:15pm behind LP Frans Stadium in Hickory, near the 6th Street NW area. It's a compact cylindrical speaker with a matte fabric finish, white JBL logo on the side, and a small scratch along the rim. There’s a red sticker on the bottom edge with 'RM-7'. It was sitting by the bike racks near the stadium's parking lot. I tested it quickly with my phone and it still connected, so I know it’s got life left in it. If this sounds like yours, tell me the model and the sticker detail to confirm.

Hickory / Lenoir about 1 month ago

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Black leather briefcase with red lining

I found a black leather briefcase this afternoon around 2:15 pm in the parking lot behind the Hickory Furniture Market on 2nd Ave NW. It's about 16 inches wide with a sturdy leather handle and a gold-tone zipper that still shines. Inside, there’s a bright red lining, a padded laptop sleeve, and a faded leather ID tag that reads 'Property of J. Alvarez'. The outside has a small scuff on the corner and a green luggage tag with initials 'JA'. It looks well-kept overall, probably used daily for work. If this is yours, send me a quick note and I’ll hold onto it here until you can pick it up nearby—the parking area by the market is busy, so I know someone will be looking for it soon.

Hickory / Lenoir about 1 month ago

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Red Pearl snare drum found near library

I found a red Pearl snare drum this afternoon around 2:15pm in the parking lot behind the Hickory Public Library on Main Street. It is a 14x5.5 inch shell with a glossy finish and chrome hardware. The head shows stick marks and there is a small dent on the rim near the snare lever, plus a faded blue sticker inside the shell with the initials 'AJ'. It is not pristine, but it is playable and clean overall. I know gear matters for gigs, so I am hoping to get it back to its owner soon—if this sounds like yours, tell me the last gig you played or the sticker inside, and we can arrange a safe handoff.

Hickory / Lenoir 4 months ago