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

found G

Found: two dogs near Beale Street, Memphis

I was walking along Beale Street around 6:40 PM on Friday when two dogs trotted up to me, muddy and friendly, tails wagging. They wore red collars and one had a blue bandana. I kept them near the riverfront by Tom Lee Park for about 20 minutes, offering water and calm words while I checked for a microchip with a reader I carry and asked passersby if they recognized them. It aches to think someone might be missing them, and I hope this helps reunite them with their family.

Near Beale Street and Tom Lee Park 1 day ago

found H

Found drone near Beale Street, Memphis

I was walking the riverfront by Beale Street around 7:20 PM on a breezy Thursday when I spotted a drone lying in the grass by a planter near Tom Lee Park. It still flashed a blinking red LED and hummed faintly as I nudged it with my sneaker. I picked it up, checked for marks, and imagined how relieved the owner would be to see this post. It looked recently dropped, probably during a quick flight along the Mississippi. If this is yours, it’s waiting here at the Memphis listing, found near downtown by the river.

near Beale Street, downtown Memphis 5 days ago

found L

Found swimsuits near Beale Street Landing.

On Friday at 4:45 PM, I found a stack of swimsuits on the grass by Beale Street Landing, Memphis, along the riverfront. A bright turquoise one with a floral print and a pink tote stood out as the sun dipped toward the water. It looked like someone had dashed away from a pool or river outing in a hurry. I tucked them under a bench for safekeeping and hoped whoever lost them would recognize the scene when they return.

Sentimental

Beale Street Landing, riverfront Memphis, TN about 2 months ago

found D

Brooches found near Beale Street, Memphis.

I found a small stash of brooches this morning around Beale Street, Memphis, at 9:15 AM, just outside the FedExForum. One is a delicate gold bee with tiny stones, another is a silver dragonfly, and a cameo brooch with a curled flower design; all of them look like they've been cherished. They appeared tidy, in decent shape, but clearly dropped in haste. I held onto them for a while, hoping the rightful owner would see this and claim them.

near Beale Street outside FedExForum 2 months ago

found A

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 4 months 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 5 months ago