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

Helpful resources for Lehigh Valley

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Lehigh Valley

found A

Blue Nike swim trunks, size L, neon drawstring

I found a pair of men's blue Nike swimming trunks this afternoon around 3:15pm behind the Allentown Public Library parking lot on 7th Street in the Lehigh Valley. They're size L, bright royal blue with a neon lime drawstring and a white Nike swoosh on the left leg. The fabric shows light sun fade from the pool, but they're clean and dry now. On the belt loop is a small red silicone bead keychain—totally unique and easy to spot. If these are yours, drop me a message in the app and we can arrange pickup from the same spot.

Lehigh Valley about 1 month ago

found P

Black leather briefcase with laptop sleeve

I found a black leather briefcase this afternoon around 2:15pm in the parking lot behind the Allentown Public Library on N 7th Street, here in the Lehigh Valley. It's a medium-sized case with a single zipper, a worn scuff on the front corner, and a padded laptop sleeve that fits a 15-inch laptop. Inside the main pocket there's a yellow Post-it with the initials 'A.R.' and a blue USB-C cable tucked next to a stack of business cards. There's a brass key tag on the outside handle engraved with 'BR' and a faint leather smell that still feels new. If you recognize it, I hope we can get it back to its owner soon.

Lehigh Valley 2 months ago

found P

Penguin Classics paperback found near Allentown library

I found a well-loved Penguin Classics paperback this afternoon around 3:15 pm outside the Allentown Public Library courtyard on N 7th Street. The book is a green-spined edition of Pride and Prejudice, with dog-eared corners and a small blue lighthouse sticker on the back cover. A few pages have blue highlights and a couple of quotes underlined in blue ink in the margins. It seems like someone cared for it and it's got that 'spent a lot of time with this one' feel. If this is yours, drop me a message here and we can figure out a meetup by the library steps.

Lehigh Valley 2 months ago

found P

Found iPhone 12 Pro Max near SteelStacks

I found a white iPhone 12 Pro Max this afternoon around 4:15pm in the parking lot behind the SteelStacks in Bethlehem, Lehigh Valley, by the Lehigh River. It's in a black OtterBox case with a bright blue PopSocket and a notable crack across the top edge of the screen. The back has a small dent near the camera and a tiny scratch near the logo. I picked it up after I saw it lying on the pavement near the covered walkway and I kept it safe so it wouldn't get damaged in the drizzle. If this is yours, please describe the lock-screen wallpaper (a mountain sunset) or the last photo in the camera roll to confirm, and we can arrange a safe return today.

Lehigh Valley 2 months ago

found A

Found blue-green parakeet with leg band

I found a small blue-green parakeet this afternoon around 3:45 pm outside the Allentown Public Library on N. 5th Street. It’s a bright little bird with yellow on the throat, blue tail feathers, and a silver leg band engraved with the number 2743. The bird seemed healthy and curious, letting me approach a bit before hopping back to the railing. If this is your bird, please message me with a photo or describe the leg band so we can arrange a pickup somewhere convenient in Lehigh Valley. I know how stressful it is to lose a pet, and I’d love to help get it back to its home.

Lehigh Valley 3 months ago

found A

Silver-tone bracelet with heart charm, initials A.P.

I found this silver-tone bracelet this afternoon around 2:45pm in the parking lot behind the Easton Public Market on Larry Holmes Drive in Easton, Lehigh Valley. It's a slim, roughly 7 inches long bracelet with a small heart charm and a tiny sapphire-colored crystal near the heart. The heart charm is engraved on the back with the initials 'A.P.' and there are a few micro-scratches along the chain from wear. It seems sentimental—like it could be someone’s cherished piece that got left behind. If you recognize it, send me a note and we can figure out how to get it back.

Lehigh Valley 5 months ago