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

Helpful resources for Lincoln

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Lincoln

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Found a litter of kittens near Sunken Gardens

Last Friday around 7:15 p.m., I found three tiny kittens near the Sunken Gardens at 40th Street and A Street in Lincoln, Nebraska. They were huddled under a parked car, eyes barely open and ears damp from a passing rain. I wrapped them in my jacket to keep them warm and checked for signs of a home, but there was nothing obvious. My heart went out to those little ones, and I’m hoping the rightful owner sees this note and knows they’re safe for now.

Sunken Gardens, 40th St & A St, Lincoln, NE 1 day ago

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Found wall art near the Capitol.

I was walking to coffee around 9:50 AM today when I spotted a framed canvas leaning against a planter outside the Nebraska State Capitol on 16th Street. It shows a stylized Lincoln skyline in warm oranges and blues and looks well cared for. I picked it up and posted this listing hoping to reunite it with its owner.

Sentimental

outside the Nebraska State Capitol, 16th Street, Lincoln about 1 month ago

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Found utensils in Lincoln, near Haymarket

I found someone's utensils this morning, around 7:45 a.m., near the Haymarket in downtown Lincoln. A tote with spatulas, a rolling pin, and a few ladles lay on the brick sidewalk by 9th Street, likely dropped in the morning rush. I picked them up and stood by the Haymarket cafe, hoping the owner would spot them soon. It felt right to return something useful rather than leave it behind, and I left the utensils safe on the bench with a note for the finder to check this listing.

by the Haymarket in downtown Lincoln 2 months ago

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Red Santa hat with white fur trim found

Found a red Santa hat with white faux fur trim this afternoon around 2:15pm outside Bailey's Bakery on O Street in the Haymarket. It's a felt hat, adult size, with a tiny pine-needle pin tucked under the brim and a faint sparkle on the fur. The hat looks gently worn but overall in good condition—the lining is soft, with no rips. I was walking from the parking lot toward the fountain when I spotted it on the sidewalk by the brick planters. If it's yours, message me here with a quick detail about the pine pin or a photo to claim it.

Lincoln 4 months ago

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Ray-Ban blue tortoise glasses with engraving

I found a pair of Ray-Ban glasses this afternoon around 3:15pm on O Street, just outside Indigo Bridge Books & Café in Lincoln's Haymarket. They’re blue tortoise acetate with rectangular frames. The lenses are clear, but one has a tiny scratch in the top corner. The inside of the left temple is engraved with the initials 'M.K.' and the hinges show light wear. Overall, they’re in decent condition; no case or cleaning cloth found. If this looks like yours, shoot me a message here and we’ll figure out how to get them back.

Lincoln 4 months ago

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National Geographic magazine with orange cover found

I found a National Geographic magazine with a bright orange cover this afternoon around 3:15pm near the downtown Lincoln library entrance on O Street. It's the June issue from a few years back, the spine is creased and the pages show light wear. Inside the front page there's a small sticker with the initials 'R.S.' and a bookmark sticking out between pages 42-43. It smells like coffee and it clearly mattered to someone. If this is yours, I can drop it at the library desk or we can meet at a nearby cafe; I just want to get it back to you.

Lincoln 5 months ago