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

Helpful resources for Lawrence

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Lawrence

found P

Navy blue Nike swim trunks, size M

I found a pair of navy blue Nike swim trunks this afternoon around 2:45pm behind the KU Memorial Stadium parking lot on 6th Street in Lawrence. They're size M, quick-dry fabric, with a white drawstring and a bright red Nike Swoosh on the left leg. Inside the waistband there's a small blue silicone keyring with a 'KU' insignia, and there's a faint chlorine stain near the hem plus a tiny orange squiggle mark on the right pocket—two unique features that could help identify them. They look recently used but in good shape otherwise. If these might be yours, I'm happy to get them back to you.

Lawrence 2 months ago

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Found bright pink dog harness with leash

I found this bright pink dog harness with a matching blue leash this afternoon around 3:15pm in the parking lot behind Free State Brewing Co. on Massachusetts Street in Lawrence. The harness is small, nylon with a reflective stripe along the edge and a tiny paw-print charm on the buckle. The leash is plain blue, about four feet long. It looked well-used but clean, and there was no ID tag on either piece. I’d love to see it go back to the pup it belongs to—if this sounds like yours, shoot me a note and we can meet up near Lawrence Public Library or at the corner of 9th and Mass to transfer.

Lawrence 2 months ago

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Red nylon dog harness with reflective stripes

I found a red nylon dog harness with reflective stripes this morning around 8:15am behind the Lawrence Public Library on Vermont Street, near the bike racks. It’s a medium-sized, adjustable harness with a black plastic buckle and a small blue paw-print charm hanging from the D-ring. Inside, there’s a white label with a handwritten name that looks like “Milo.” The harness is in good condition and clearly used, with a few dog-hair specks and nothing torn. If this belongs to someone, I’d really like to help reunite it with their pup—I’ll be around the library area today in case someone recognizes it.

Lawrence 3 months ago

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Found lime-green budgie with yellow head near library

I found a small budgie this afternoon around 3:45 pm behind the Lawrence Public Library on Vermont Street, near 7th. It's got a lime-green body, a bright yellow head, blue cheek patches, and tiny black scallops along the wings. It’s wearing a small blue leg band stamped 'AL9.' The bird seemed calm, hopped around a bench, and was clearly used to people—very friendly, actually. I kept it safe in a makeshift cage I had on hand while I looked for its owner, hoping to reunite them soon. If you think it’s yours, DM me with a photo or the leg-band code to verify.

Lawrence 3 months ago

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Red cable-knit scarf with snowflake pattern

I found a red cable-knit scarf this afternoon around 2:15pm outside the Free State Brewing Company on Massachusetts Street, downtown Lawrence. It's a mid-length scarf, soft wool blend, in great condition with just a few fuzzy pills. The scarf features a small brass button sewn into the inner edge and a tiny green snowflake embroidery near the hem—nice little unique touches. I figured someone might be chilly on a day like today, so I picked it up and planned to post it here in case the owner sees it. If this is yours, reply with a photo of the button or the embroidery to confirm.

Lawrence 4 months ago

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Leopard gecko found near downtown Lawrence

Found a small leopard gecko yesterday around 5:30pm near the Free State Brewing Co. on Massachusetts Street in downtown Lawrence. It’s about 4 inches long from snout to tail, tan with dark brown spots and a fat orange-tinged tail. There’s a tiny scar on its right back toe and a faint white line along the left eyelid scale. It looked calm and well-fed, like it belongs to someone and was accidentally left behind. If you recognize it or think it’s yours, send me a message here and we can figure out a safe pickup.

Lawrence 4 months ago