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

Helpful resources for Memphis

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Memphis

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Found black leather wallet near Beale Street

I found a black pebbled leather wallet this afternoon around 3:30pm, lying on the sidewalk by the FedExForum entrance on Beale Street in downtown Memphis. It's a slim bifold, about the size of a credit card holder, with a small gold crest on the lower corner and a stubborn coffee stain along the back edge. Inside are a few cards, a laminated photo of a dog, and receipts from a Memphis grocery, plus a driver's license in the name 'Alex Rivera'. I figured someone must be missing it in the Beale Street area, and I really hope the owner sees this and can reclaim it—wallets like this can have sentimental value.

Memphis 27 days ago

found J

Red Christmas wreath found near Beale Street Landing

I found a red Christmas wreath this afternoon around 2:15pm on Beale Street outside the Beale Street Landing parking area in downtown Memphis. It's about 16 inches across, with a shiny red ribbon, a gold bow, and a few faux pinecones tucked in. The wreath looks new-ish, just a light dusting of street dirt from the rain yesterday. There's a small tag on the back reading 'From Aunt Mia' in silver marker. If this belongs to someone, I can bring it to a local spot or meet up nearby. I'm hoping to reunite it with the owner because it would brighten their holiday season.

Memphis about 2 months ago

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Blue US passport found near Orpheum Theatre

I found a blue US passport this afternoon around 2:30 pm on the sidewalk outside the Orpheum Theatre on Main Street in Memphis. The cover is navy blue with the gold eagle crest and 'UNITED STATES OF AMERICA' clearly visible, though the edges are a bit worn and there's a small coffee stain on the back. The photo page shows the holder in a red jacket, and it looks like it was issued in 2023. I tucked it into a protective sleeve and kept it safe, hoping to reunite it with its owner soon. If you know who this belongs to, please reach out.

Memphis 3 months ago

found P

Blue university ID card on blue lanyard

I found a blue university student ID card this afternoon around 2:45pm in the parking lot behind AutoZone Park on Front Street, downtown Memphis. The card belongs to a student named Jordan Lee and shows a small photo of a person with short black hair wearing a red hoodie. It's attached to a blue lanyard with a white university logo, and there's a faint coffee stain near the clasp. The card is in decent shape, just a little bent at the top-right corner. If the owner sees this, please reach out so I can help return it. I can meet near the park entrance or a nearby cafe to hand it over.

Memphis 4 months ago

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Found gray tabby cat with orange collar

I found this gray tabby this afternoon around 4:15pm outside the FedExForum on Beale Street, downtown Memphis. Medium-sized, white paws, orange collar with a tiny silver bell, and a blue enamel name tag that reads 'Milo.' He came right up to me, is clearly well cared for, and purred when I picked him up. I’m hoping to reunite him with his owner—if this sounds like your cat, email me at [email protected] with a photo or a detail only you’d know.

Memphis 5 months ago

found P

Black North Face backpack with red zipper

Found a black North Face backpack this afternoon around 4:15pm in the parking lot behind the FedExForum on Beale Street, Memphis. The bag is in pretty good shape, a little dusty from downtown sidewalks, with a bright red zipper pull and a slightly frayed edge at the bottom. Inside there's a blue USB-C hub sticking out of the front pocket and a neon green carabiner hooked on the zipper. There's a small canvas patch on the front pocket that says 'Stay curious' and a thin name tag that appears handwritten with the name 'Alex'—probably the owner. If this is yours, email [email protected] and we can arrange a meetup near the Beale Street area to get it back.

Memphis 5 months ago