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

Helpful resources for Medford-Ashland

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Medford-Ashland

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Found: Document Holders near Medford Library.

Friday at 9:45 a.m., in light rain along East Main Street, I found a stack of Document Holders leaning against a storefront pole near Medford Central Library. They’re black leather, a bit scuffed, with neat labels like HR and Finance. There are three sleeves; they seem to be empty or missing contents. I didn’t pry or peek beyond a quick glance. I tucked them upright by the library entrance so they’d be noticed, hoping the rightful owner would see them soon. If this sounds like yours, reach out through the site to reclaim them.

Sentimental

Near Medford Central Library, East Main St, Medford 11 days ago

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Found Driver's License near Ashland Plaza

I was strolling toward Lithia Park around 11:10 AM on a misty Tuesday when I spotted a Driver's License lying on the sidewalk near Ashland Plaza. The card shows a clear photo and appears up-to-date, but there were no contact details on the item itself. I slipped it into my pocket and took it to the Ashland Police Department's Lost & Found desk, hoping the owner would be reunited with it soon. It felt good to help prevent a day of hassle for someone who might be visiting the area.

Ashland Plaza, near the Oregon Shakespeare Festival about 1 month ago

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FOUND brooches near Lithia Park, Ashland

Hi, I am Noah Reed. I FOUND a cluster of brooches on a bench near Lithia Park in Ashland, around 1:15 PM Saturday, in the Medford-Ashland area of Oregon. They are vintage-looking, with one featuring a tiny bird and another with tiny green stones catching the light. I tucked them into a small bag and kept an eye out around the bandstand, thinking they might belong to someone who cherishes them as much as I would cherish a keepsake. I hope the owner sees this and claims them through the site.

near Lithia Park bandstand, Ashland about 2 months ago

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Blue Nike running shoes with lime laces

Found a pair of blue Nike running shoes this afternoon around 3:15pm in the parking lot behind the Jackson County Courthouse on East Main Street in Medford-Ashland. They’re size 9 men’s, blue with bright lime-green laces and a white Nike swoosh. The left shoe has a faint orange coffee stain near the toe, and a few scuffs on the heel from the pavement, but otherwise they look gently used. I figured someone probably dropped them during a quick stop in town and forgot them. If you’re missing a pair with lime laces, shoot me a message and we’ll work out returning them.

Medford-Ashland 3 months ago

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Gray nylon tote bag with red zipper pull

I found a bag this afternoon around 3:15pm outside the Medford Public Library on Central Ave, near the main entrance. It's a medium-sized gray nylon tote with a bright red zipper pull and a small blue enamel wave pin on the strap. Inside there's a yellow lining, a spiral notebook with doodles, a stainless steel water bottle, and a cracked iPhone charger. The bag looks a bit worn but everything seems intact. If it's yours, email me at [email protected] and tell me a detail only you would know about the contents so I can confirm it's yours.

Medford-Ashland 3 months ago

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Found dog: tan beagle-terrier with red collar

I found a dog this afternoon around 3:30pm near the Ashland Library on Siskiyou Blvd in Medford-Ashland. It's a medium-sized tan-and-white beagle-terrier mix, about 35 pounds, with a bright red collar and a small round tag that's a bit worn. There's a white patch on his chest and a faint heart-shaped mark on his left hind leg. He came from the Lithia Park area and seemed comfortable with a leash, wagging his tail when I crouched to pet him. I'd really like to reunite him with his owner; if this sounds like your dog, please reach out and we'll arrange a meetup near the library.

Medford-Ashland 6 months ago