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

Helpful resources for La Salle Co

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in La Salle Co

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found handheld and console in La Salle Co

I found a handheld device and a console on the curb behind the Starved Rock Market on Main Street in Ottawa, around 6:42 p.m. last Thursday. The screens glowed softly as a light rain began and streetlights blurred in the wet pavement. I tucked the items into a tote and brought them here, thinking of the person who must be worried and hoping they’ll see this and get them back soon. I’ll keep them safe in the meantime, and I hope the rightful owner finds them through this site.

Behind Starved Rock Market on Main St, Ottawa 1 day ago

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Found GPS device near Ottawa Riverfront Park, La Salle Co

I found a GPS device on the bike path near Ottawa Riverfront Park around 9:30 a.m. this Sunday. The case is a little scuffed and the screen has a crack, but the device still powers on. My first thought was that someone relies on it to get around, and I felt a tug to help. I kept it safe and posted it here so the rightful owner can claim it through the site. If you’re the owner, I hope you see this and can reconnect with your device.

near the Ottawa Riverfront Park 14 days ago

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Found sheet music in La Salle Co

On Friday around 6:15 pm, after a short walk near Starved Rock State Park in La Salle Co, I found a folder of sheet music lying on the sidewalk by the Ottawa train station. The pages are a bit damp and the binding is creased, but the titles are legible. There wasn't a name on the cover—only a small pencil note in the corner. It felt like a small piece of someone's practice life left behind, and I'd really like to see it back with its owner.

Sentimental

Ottawa train station platform bench, La Salle Co 26 days ago

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Colorful plush dinosaur toy in La Salle Co

I found a bright green plush dinosaur stuffed toy yesterday around 3pm behind the La Salle Co Library on Main Street, near the fountain. It’s about 12 inches tall, with orange spikes along its back and a small blue star patch on its tail. The fabric is a little worn and there’s a tiny hole in the left ear, but otherwise it’s in decent condition and clearly loved by a kid. I’m hoping to reunite it with its owner—if this sounds like yours, reply here and we can arrange a quick pickup near the library.

La Salle Co 2 months ago

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Found gray Nike hoodie with neon drawstrings

I found a gray Nike hoodie yesterday afternoon around 3:15pm. It's a men's size L, fleece-lined, with neon-green drawstrings that really pop. On the chest there's a clean white swoosh, and inside the hood there's a tiny red heart stitched near the seam—quirky and easy to spot. I found it outside the Bluebird Café on Oak Street, in the alley behind the building in La Salle Co. If you're the owner, I'm happy to help you get it back.

La Salle Co 3 months ago

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Found red first aid kit near Walgreens

I found a red first aid kit this afternoon around 2:15pm, tucked behind a bench outside the Walgreens on Main Street in La Salle Co. It's a compact health-and-medical item, a nylon pouch about 7 inches long with a white cross on the front and a gray zipper. Inside there's a laminated name tag that reads 'M. Rivera' and a small list of supplies, plus a sealed antiseptic wipe packet. The kit is a bit worn but clean, and it has a faint scent of hand sanitizer. If the owner sees this, I'd be glad to return it.

La Salle Co 4 months ago