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

Helpful resources for Missoula

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Missoula

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Found: Driver's License in Missoula

I found a driver's license on the sidewalk outside a coffee shop on Higgins Avenue in Missoula, Montana, around 8:15 this morning. The card's photo looked travel-worn, and the Montana address suggested the owner had just spent time near Caras Park. I picked it up and tucked it into my jacket, thinking it would be safest to drop it at the Missoula Police Department front desk so it could find its way home. The Clark Fork breeze and the dogs getting a morning walk reminded me that small acts can matter in a city this big.

Outside a coffee shop on Higgins Ave, near Caras Park, Missoula 23 days ago

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Black North Face backpack with panda sticker

I found a black North Face backpack this afternoon around 3:15pm behind the Wilma Theatre on Higgins Ave in Missoula. It's a 25-liter daypack with some wear on the bottom corners and red zippers on the main pouch. The front pocket sports a small panda sticker, and there's a blue USB cable looped through a carabiner on the side pocket. Inside, I spotted a weathered Montana road map and a pair of over-ear headphones in decent shape. I know how important a backpack like this is for daily routines, and I’d really love to help get it back to its owner.

Missoula 28 days ago

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Silver hoop earrings with moon engraving

Found a pair of silver hoop earrings this afternoon around 3:15pm outside the downtown Starbucks on Main Street in Missoula. They’re small, about 1.2 cm in diameter, with a polished finish and a tiny moon engraving on the inner side of one hoop. They’re in good condition, though I can see a faint scratch on the back from picking them up off the sidewalk. I left them where I found them, on the ground near the coffee stand, in case their owner comes back for them. If these look like yours, we can figure out a time to swap them back.

Missoula about 1 month ago

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Found 1983 Easy Rider magazines in parking lot

I found 2 Easy Rider magazines in the parking at East Gate in Missoula,year 1983 , might be someone's collection,or sentimental. Give me the months and there yours.

Missoula about 2 months ago

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Black leather tote with hummingbird charm

I found a black pebbled leather tote yesterday around 3pm in the parking lot behind the Missoula Public Library on Higgins Ave. It's a medium-sized bag, about 14 by 11 inches, with gold-tone hardware and a bright pink lining you can glimpse when you open the top. The zipper pull has a small white enamel hummingbird charm and there's a tiny tag inside with the initials 'S.R.'—really distinctive. Bags like this clearly hold lots of daily life stuff, and I’d love to see the owner get it back; I’m sure it means a lot.

Missoula about 2 months ago

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I found a cordless drill near the Wilma.

I found a cordless drill this afternoon around 2:15pm in downtown Missoula, near the Wilma Theatre on Higgins Ave. It's a yellow DeWalt 20V drill with a black handle and a slightly scuffed yellow plastic case. There's a blue painter's tape label on the battery that says 'S.L.' and the chuck feels a bit stiff. I left it on a small concrete ledge by the bike racks behind the Wilma, hoping the owner would recognize the initials. If you're missing a tool like this, reach out; I'm happy to coordinate a quick pickup or drop-off locally.

Missoula 3 months ago