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

Helpful resources for Madison

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Madison

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Navy quilted duvet cover set with two shams, queen

I found a navy quilted duvet cover set with two matching shams, queen size, this afternoon around 2:45pm. It was folded on a bench outside the Capitol Square entrance on State Street, right by the fountain near the Wisconsin Veterans Museum. The fabric feels like soft cotton with a subtle grid of stitching, and there’s a hidden zipper closure. Inside, there’s a small tag with the initials 'M.L.' embroidered, which is a nice identifying feature. It’s in good condition overall, just a bit wrinkled from sitting in the sun. Bedding like this matters a lot to someone who sleeps with it every night—if this sounds like yours, tell me the size and the initials on the tag, and we can work out a pickup near the Capitol or at the Madison Lost & Found.

Madison about 1 month ago

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Found Pearl snare drum near Capitol Square, Madison

I found a Pearl Export Series snare drum, 14x6.5 this afternoon around 2:15pm on State Street outside the Capitol Square entrance in Madison. It's in a red sparkle wrap with a few surface scratches and a small dent on the rim. Inside the shell is a faded blue sticker that says 'UW Band,' which makes it a bit easier to identify. I figured someone might be missing a drum during the lunchtime crowd, and I'd really like to return it to its owner soon if you see this and recognize it.

Madison about 2 months ago

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Found young man near Capitol Square, Madison

I found a young man this afternoon around 2:15pm wandering near Capitol Square in Madison. He's about 5'11", with short brown hair and light stubble, and he was wearing a red hoodie under a navy puffer jacket, gray joggers, and white sneakers. A bright yellow backpack with a small fox keychain hung from one strap. He seemed worried and kept checking his phone, saying he’d gotten separated from friends near State Street and wasn’t sure where to go. He also has a small compass tattoo on his left wrist, which helped me recognize him from a friend’s description. If this looks familiar, email me at [email protected] so we can help reunite him safely.

Madison 2 months ago

found A

Black tuxedo jacket with satin lapels, found near Capitol Square

I found a black Calvin Klein tuxedo jacket this afternoon around 2:45pm outside the Capitol Square on State Street, Madison. It's a size 42R wool-blend with satin notch lapels and a gray Calvin Klein inner lining. The jacket is in decent condition with a light crease and a tiny moth-hole near the left cuff, and there’s a silver tie clip engraved with the initials 'J.S.' tucked in the chest pocket. If this belongs to you, send me a message and we can arrange a return.

Madison 3 months ago

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Found JBL Bluetooth speaker near Capitol Square, Madison

Found a JBL Flip 5 Bluetooth speaker this afternoon around 3:45pm behind the Madison Public Library on Capitol Square, near the bike racks by the State Street entrance. It's black with a blue fabric grille and a small red-heart sticker on the bottom edge. It powers on and pairs with my phone, so it seems in working order, with just a few light scuffs on the bottom from sitting on the ground. There isn’t any ID tag or note attached, and I figured someone might be missing it after a quick stroll on State Street. If this belongs to you, reply here with a description of the sticker or last thing you played, and we can arrange a pickup near the library.

Madison 4 months ago

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Found black rectangular glasses with metal frame

I found a pair of black rectangular glasses with a thin silver metal frame this afternoon around 3:15pm on State Street, just outside the Capitol Square entrance in Madison. They're prescription lenses, with a tiny bend in the right temple and a faint scratch on the left lens. They came with a gray microfiber pouch that has a small blue logo and a scratched-off sticker on the case. If these belong to you, tell me the brand you remember and the approximate place you last wore them, and we can arrange a pickup.

Madison 5 months ago