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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 Lakeland? Handling it responsibly protects both you and the owner. Rules vary by location, but the principles are consistent.

  1. Make a reasonable effort to find the owner. Check for ID, contact details, or anything that identifies who it belongs to.
  2. 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.
  3. Hand valuables to the authorities. Report significant or high-value finds to the police non-emergency line for Lakeland; they'll log it and may issue a reference.
  4. Store it safely. Keep the item secure and unchanged while you try to return it.
  5. Post a found listing. Add a found-item listing for Lakeland with enough detail for the real owner to identify it — while holding back one verifying detail.

Helpful resources for Lakeland

Recent reports in Lakeland

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Found keys with blue lanyard and lighthouse charm

I found a set of keys this morning around 9am in the parking lot behind the Lakeland Public Library on Oak Street. There's a blue nylon lanyard with a small lighthouse charm and a black USB drive tucked between a couple of keys. One key has an orange paracord wrap and another is a house key with a tiny red tag marked 'No. 42'. There are a few keys for homes and a car, and I’d love to get them back to their owner—message me and I’ll meet at the library to return them.

Lakeland about 1 month ago
found P

Framed 16x20 landscape painting found

I found a framed 16x20 landscape painting this afternoon around 2:15pm outside the Lakeland Public Library on Kentucky Ave near the main entrance. It's an acrylic-on-canvas piece in a slightly worn gold-leaf frame, with a couple of edge scuffs and a tiny coffee ring on the matte. The scene shows a warm sunset over Lake Mirror with a red boathouse and tall pines; there's a faint pencil signature 'A.R.' in the lower-right corner and a back label that reads 'The Last Light' from a local arts fair in 2022. If someone recognizes it, please get in touch—I’d love to help this belong to its owner again.

Lakeland about 1 month ago
found A

Found white Nike running shoes with red swoosh

Found a pair of white Nike running shoes this afternoon around 3:15pm outside the main entrance of the Lakeland Library on Oak Street. They’re men’s size 9, white with a bright red swoosh, and they’re a little scuffed on the toe but otherwise in decent condition. One unique feature is a blue sticker on the tongue that reads 'Run For Fun' and a neon yellow lace tag with the initials A.H. inside. They looked recently worn, and I’d hate for someone to lose them permanently. If you’re the owner, I’m happy to arrange a meetup at Lakeside Park or the library entrance to get them back.

Lakeland about 2 months ago
found A

Found: Black rectangular eyeglasses near Publix, Lakeland

I found a pair of black rectangular glasses this afternoon around 2:15pm in the parking lot behind the Publix on South Florida Avenue in Lakeland. They’re standard black plastic frames, a bit worn with a small silver accent on the hinges and a tiny scratch on the right lens. Inside the left temple is engraved 'MB,' and they came with a navy microfiber case that has a white star logo. I know how important these can be, so I’d love to get them back to their owner—if this sounds like your pair, drop me a note and we’ll arrange a pickup.

Lakeland about 2 months ago
found P

Found beagle mix with blue collar near Munn Park

I found a medium-sized beagle mix this morning around 9am wandering near the fountain by Munn Park on East Main Street in Lakeland. He has brown and white fur with a tiny white star-shaped patch on his chest and a blue reflective collar with a bright yellow tag. He seemed clean and friendly, wagging his tail when I spoke to him. I’m pretty sure someone is missing him, and I’d love to help get him back to his family.

Lakeland 2 months ago
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Black Michael Kors tote found near Publix, Lakeland

I found a black Michael Kors tote this afternoon around 3:15pm outside the Publix on South Florida Avenue in Lakeland. It's pebble-grain leather, medium-large, with a tan interior and gold-tone hardware. The bag shows a few scuffs on the corners but is otherwise in decent shape. A pink satin scarf is tied around the top handle, and there's a small silver dog-tag keychain clipped to the interior zipper pull—pretty distinctive. Inside I found a brown leather wallet with the initials 'L.P.' on the card holder. If this bag belongs to you, message me here and we’ll arrange a safe handoff in Lakeland.

Lakeland 3 months ago