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

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Found GPS Device in Lehigh Valley

I found a GPS device today in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, United States, around 2:30 PM on a bench outside Lehigh Valley Mall in Allentown. It’s a small black unit with a cracked screen and a sticker bearing coordinates. I picked it up and brought it to the mall’s lost-and-found, hoping the owner would recognize it. The area near the entrance by the food court was bustling with shoppers and the scent of pretzels in the air. The device will mean a lot to its owner, and I hope it helps them reconnect with it soon.

near Lehigh Valley Mall entrance, by the food court 1 day ago

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Found a stash of stud earrings in Lehigh Valley

At 3:15 PM on Tuesday, I found a small velvet pouch with several stud earrings on a bench outside the Allentown Art Museum on N 3rd Street in the Lehigh Valley. The studs range from a tiny silver ball to a diamond-like sparkle and one turquoise-accent pair—nothing flashy, but clearly someone's favorites. They were tucked into a pocket-sized pouch, as if waiting for the right moment to be worn again.

Allentown Art Museum, N 3rd Street, Allentown 15 days ago

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Found Ryobi tool and accessory

Found Ryobi tool and accessory approx 7/17/26 on the ramp from 222N (Hamilton Blvd) to 78W / 309N. Tool not registered with Ryobi so they weren't able to help.

Urgent

Lehigh Valley about 2 months ago

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FOUND: two keyboards near PPL Center, Allentown

Hi, I’m Daniel Rivera. I found two keyboards under a bench outside the PPL Center in downtown Allentown around 5:40 p.m. today. They look like standard USB keyboards, one black and one gray, a little dusty from the rain. They must belong to someone who left them behind after a rehearsal or a meeting, so I’m posting here to help reunite them with their owner. I didn’t touch anything beyond moving them to a sheltered spot, and I kept an eye on them while I waited to post.

outside the PPL Center, downtown Allentown about 2 months ago

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Found: Travel Bags in Lehigh Valley

I was walking by the Allentown Transportation Center on 7th Street around 9:45 this morning when I spotted two travel bags left next to a bench. One is a black rolling suitcase with a red tag, the other a gray duffel with a worn strap. They looked recently abandoned, so I picked them up and brought them to a safe spot while I posted here, hoping the owner would see this. It felt good to help someone out and I’d love to see the owner get their things back.

Sentimental

outside Allentown Transportation Center on 7th Street 2 months ago

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Found hamster duo near Allentown Public Library

It was around 6:15 p.m. on Friday when I was walking past the Allentown Public Library on Hamilton Street and heard faint squeaks from behind a bench. A small blue carrier sat there, and inside I found two hamsters peering out—one golden with white patches, the other gray with a stripe along the back. The cage was light, with a water bottle dangling and scattered sunflower seeds. It felt like someone’s pets had slipped away, and I could almost hear a panicked voice calling for them. I’m hoping to reconnect them with their people soon.

Outside Allentown Public Library, Hamilton Street 2 months ago