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 Minneapolis / St Paul? 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 Minneapolis / St Paul; 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 Minneapolis / St Paul with enough detail for the real owner to identify it — while holding back one verifying detail.

Helpful resources for Minneapolis / St Paul

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Minneapolis / St Paul

found A

Found paintings near Stone Arch Bridge

Last night, around 8:15 PM, I found two paintings leaning against a bench near the Stone Arch Bridge along the Mississippi in downtown Minneapolis. The frames are a bit worn, with one canvas showing a snowy river and the other a busy city street under gray clouds. I tucked them into my tote and brought them to a nearby cafe, hoping to keep them safe until the owner noticed this listing. There was no note or name tag, just the quiet feeling that someone had lost something meaningful on a chilly walk along the water. If these belong to you, I hope this helps bring them back home.

near Mill City Museum, along the riverfront 2 days ago

found P

Navy wool coat with belt found near Mill City Museum

Found a navy 3/4-length wool coat yesterday around 3pm near the Mill City Museum entrance on 2nd Street SE in Minneapolis. It's a J.Crew wool coat, size Medium, in good condition aside from a small coffee stain on the inner pocket. The coat has a brown leather belt and a distinctive gold anchor lapel pin that I spotted when I picked it up. The lining is a bright red, which makes it easy to spot. If this sounds like yours, message me with the pin details and where you last wore it.

Minneapolis / St Paul about 1 month ago

found P

Blue Nike running jacket found near Stone Arch Bridge

I found this blue Nike running jacket this afternoon around 4pm along the Mississippi River trail by the Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis. It's a men's size M, lightweight windbreaker with a white reflective stripe down the back and a bright Nike swoosh on the chest. There’s a small red carabiner clipped to the zipper pull and a faint coffee stain near the hem from a recent run. I left it on a bench by the bike racks near the riverfront in case the owner comes back for it. If this is yours, describe the carabiner detail or the stain to verify.

Minneapolis / St Paul 3 months ago

found P

Sterling silver teardrop earrings with sapphire accents

I found a pair of sterling silver teardrop earrings with sapphire accents this afternoon around 3:15pm on the sidewalk outside the Guthrie Theater, along Gold Medal Park near the Mississippi River in Minneapolis. They’re about 1.5 cm long, with a delicate teardrop shape and a tiny clear crystal perched at the top. The backs have a tiny engraving that reads 'Mira' inside the post, and there’s a faint scratch on one setting, easy to spot if you’re looking for them. They’re in good condition overall, no bends. If you’re the owner, tell me where you last wore them or describe the engraving to claim them—we can arrange a quick meet-up in downtown Minneapolis.

Minneapolis / St Paul 5 months ago

found L

Cream king duvet cover with blue piping

I found a cream king-size duvet cover with blue piping outside the Target on Lake Street in Uptown Minneapolis this afternoon around 3:15pm. It's a sturdy cotton cover with a smooth finish, and there's a small monogram 'LA' in silver thread on the bottom-right corner. There's a faint coffee stain near the zipper, but otherwise it's clean and looks recently washed. The blue piping and the monogram are pretty distinctive, so I figured someone might be missing it after shopping or staying with friends nearby. If this is yours, drop me a message here and we can arrange a safe pickup.

Minneapolis / St Paul 7 months ago

found J

Found small pink stuffed unicorn toy with purple glitter and rainbow mane at Como Park.

I found a small pink stuffed unicorn toy at Como Park in St Paul yesterday afternoon. It looks like it may belong to a little girl since it has some lovely purple glitter on its hooves and a rainbow mane. If it's yours, I'd love to get it back to you!

Como Park, St Paul, MN, USA 8 months ago