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

Helpful resources for Janesville

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Janesville

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Found Nintendo Switch with neon Joy-Cons

I found a Nintendo Switch console this afternoon around 2:15 pm tucked under the passenger seat of the parking lot behind the Janesville Mall on Center Street, near GameStop. It's in a gray carrying case with a bright red sticker on the front and neon blue and red Joy-Con controllers attached. The screen is clean, and the device seems in good working order, with a protective screen cover showing a few fingerprints but no cracks. There's a small scratch on the back near the left edge and a custom sticker that looks like a tiny phoenix. I'd be happy to help reunite it with its owner.

Janesville 26 days ago

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Black North Face parka found near library

I found a black North Face parka this afternoon around 2:15 pm behind the Janesville Public Library on Main Street, near the bike racks by the bus stop. It's a men's medium with an orange inner lining and a small tear at the left cuff. There's a white stitched logo on the chest and a blue carabiner clipped to the inner pocket. It smells a bit like rain and looks recently worn, but it's in solid condition overall. If this belongs to you, email [email protected] and we can arrange a pickup.

Janesville 27 days ago

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Pink unicorn plush with rainbow mane

I found a pink unicorn plush this afternoon around 2:15pm near the Riverside Park entrance off Main Street in Janesville. It's about 12 inches tall, soft pink fleece with a bright rainbow mane and a shiny silver horn. There's a teal bow on its left ear and a small blue star sticker on the right hind leg, plus a tag inside that reads 'Aurora.' The toy has a little wear, slightly matted fur from lots of hugging, but otherwise seems well loved. It clearly means a lot to a kid, and I would like to see it back with its owner. If you think this is yours, reply here and we can arrange a safe meetup near City Hall fountain.

Janesville about 1 month ago

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Found navy Giro cycling helmet near Janesville Public Library

I found a navy blue Giro cycling helmet this afternoon around 2:45pm, near the bike racks by the Janesville Public Library on Main Street. It’s a medium size, with a white reflective stripe and a small star sticker on the back. There’s a light scuff on the left visor and a bit of dirt from a ride, but it’s in good condition and the strap is intact. The inner pads look clean. If you recognize it, please message me here or email [email protected] so I can get it back to its owner. I know how stressful it is to misplace gear you rely on for weekend rides.

Janesville about 2 months ago

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Silver watch with black dial and brown strap

I found a silver Fossil watch this morning around 9:15am near the entrance to the Janesville Public Library on East Court Street. It has a stainless steel case, a black dial with white numerals, and a brown leather strap that's a bit worn. On the back there's a small engraving that looks like 'A.J.' and there's a tiny scratch near the 3 o'clock bezel. It seems to be in decent shape overall. If it's yours, send a message in the app and we can arrange a meetup at the library's front steps.

Janesville about 2 months ago

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Beige leather handbag with burgundy scarf

I found this beige handbag this afternoon around 3:15pm outside the Janesville Public Library on Main Street. It's a medium-sized tan real leather bag with gold-tone hardware, and a burgundy floral scarf tied to the handle. There's a small star-shaped pin on the zipper pull, and overall it's in good condition aside from a tiny scuff on the bottom corner. I figured someone must be missing it, so I'm posting here in hopes the owner sees it. If this is yours, let me know a detail only you would know to verify.

Janesville about 2 months ago