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

Helpful resources for Knoxville

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Knoxville

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FOUND Action Figures in Knoxville, TN

I found a small pile of action figures around 2:45 p.m. today, lying by the fountain near the Sunsphere in Market Square. It’s a mixed lot—Captain America, Spider-Man, and a few older figures with chipped paint. They look well-loved, and I couldn’t just walk away, so I kept them safe nearby by Market Square and hoped the owner would recognize them soon.

Sentimental

Market Square near the Sunsphere, Knoxville 2 days ago

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Found paintings near Market Square, Knoxville.

I found these paintings lying together on the curb by Market Square around 8:20 p.m. last Friday. One frame shows a stormy mountainscape, the other a sunlit street scene, both bold and a touch dusty from the rain. I know art is personal, and I can only imagine how anxious the owner must feel right now. They feel safer in my care for the moment, and I hope this helps the rightful owner get them back.

near Market Square, downtown Knoxville 12 days ago

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FOUND: Student ID on UT campus

I was heading back to the University of Tennessee campus library around 3:45 PM yesterday when I spotted a student ID lying on the bench near Market Square. The name on the card isn’t mine, and the photo is clear, so I figured the owner would want it back. I picked it up and brought it to the campus security desk so it can be claimed by the rightful student through the proper channels. It felt good to do the right thing, especially knowing how important that card can be for a student’s day-to-day life.

near Market Square, downtown Knoxville about 1 month ago

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Found travel bags near Market Square, Knoxville

FOUND: I found a set of travel bags outside a cafe near Market Square in downtown Knoxville around 7:15 p.m. last Friday. The rolling navy suitcase and a smaller black carry-on were left by the curb, untouched and heavy with clothes. I checked for a name tag, but nothing obvious showed up, so I moved them to a bench and kept an eye on them until the crowd thinned. I can imagine the relief of the person who realized they were missing, and I’d love to see them reunited with their owner soon.

Market Square Fountain, Downtown Knoxville about 1 month ago

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Found silver Dell laptop with guitar sticker

I found a silver Dell laptop this afternoon around 2:30pm in Market Square, near the brick planter by the big LED screen. It's in a black protective sleeve, and the lid has a small guitar sticker beside the Dell logo. There's a tiny dent on the top-right corner and a blue USB-C hub plugged into the side. The screen looks functional, and the wallpaper shows a mountain sunset. If this looks like yours, email me at [email protected] and we can arrange a meetup near Market Square.

Knoxville 2 months ago

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Pair of Bijou Theatre tickets found near Market Square

I found a pair of Bijou Theatre tickets this afternoon around 2:15pm, resting on a bench near Market Square in Knoxville. They’re white with a black Bijou Theatre logo and a thin blue border; there are two general-admission tickets stapled together, and one has a tiny red heart doodle in the corner. The event name is visible, and the tickets look legitimate, not beat-up, just a small crease along the edge. I’d love to get them back to the owner—they obviously meant a lot to someone—and I’m happy to meet up anywhere in Knoxville to help return them.

Knoxville 3 months ago