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

Helpful resources for Maine

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Maine

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Found set of flutes near Monument Square, Portland

Hi, I’m Lena Carter. I found a set of flutes in Portland, Maine around 2:40 PM this Sunday, tucked beside Monument Square. They’re in a black hard case with two separate mouthpieces and a little repair kit in the pocket. The initials on the case suggest a student or local musician is missing them. They’re in good shape, and it felt right to keep them safe until the owner shows up. I’d love to see them back with the person who played them.

Sentimental

Near Monument Square, Portland, Maine 8 days ago

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Found toy train in Portland, ME

Hi, I’m Liam Hayes. I found a small tin toy train near the Old Port in Portland around 3:15 p.m. last Saturday while I was cleaning up after a quick stroll along Exchange Street. The train is red with a black chimney and a slightly worn finish, as if it has seen years of play. It brought back memories of rainy days and old toy boxes, and I could tell someone might be missing it. If this toy belongs to you or a kid you know who loves trains, I hope you see this and can claim it through the site.

Sentimental

Portland Old Port, near the Custom House on Exchange Street 21 days ago

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Found sports equipment in Maine

I found this Equipment for Various Sports on the bleachers outside the Portland Community Center around 7:45 p.m. last Tuesday. The gear was tucked in a navy duffel, with shin guards peeking out and a bright orange whistle clipped to the zipper. I can imagine the owner rushing out after practice, realizing their bag had vanished, and that sinking feeling in the chest. I brought the gear to the center’s lost-and-found desk and left a note in case the owner stops by. If this sounds like yours, it’s safe here, and I hope it helps you get back to playing soon.

near the main entrance of the Portland Community Center about 1 month ago

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Found radios in Maine near the Old Port

I'm Avery Reed. I found two radios yesterday evening near the Old Port district in Portland around 7:15 PM. One is a vintage wooden-cased radio, the other a compact portable model in a black carrying case. They were sitting on a bench behind a cafe, damp from the harbor mist. I picked them up and brought them to the local community center, hoping the owner will recognize them and come forward. They clearly belong to someone who cared about these devices, and I’d love to see them back with their owner.

by the Old Port, Portland, ME about 1 month ago

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Cream guinea pig with brown patches and blue harness

I found a small cream guinea pig with brown patches wandering near the Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth this afternoon around 3:45pm. It's the size of a standard guinea pig, with soft fur and a bright blue harness that has a tiny silver star charm. One distinguishing feature is a small white crescent patch on its left shoulder and a barely-visible scar behind its right front leg from a past scrape. It seemed a bit hungry and nervous, so I kept it safe in a tote in my car while I tried to figure out where it came from.

Maine 2 months ago

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Blue plush dragon toy with yellow belly

I found this blue plush dragon toy this afternoon around 3:15pm near the Back Cove Trail entrance off Congress Street in Portland, ME. It's about 12 inches long, soft and cuddly, with a bright yellow belly and a tiny red ribbon tied around its neck. The tag on its paw reads 'Aurora World,' and one ear is a little flattened from years of love; otherwise it's in good used condition with a few loose threads along the tail. It feels like a child's treasured friend, and I really want to help reunite it with the owner—if you recognize these features, please reach out and we can arrange a safe handoff nearby.

Maine 6 months ago