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

Helpful resources for Montgomery

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Montgomery

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found: Student ID near ASU Library steps

I’m Daniel Reed. I found a student ID on the sidewalk outside the Alabama State University Library on Bibb Street around 9:15 this morning. The card has a photo and a name, but I couldn’t read it clearly enough to identify the owner. It looks important, so I placed it on a ledge by the library entrance, hoping the rightful owner will see this and reclaim it.

ASU Library entrance, Bibb Street 21 days ago

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Found VIP concert tickets with gold foil

I found a pair of black VIP concert tickets this afternoon around 2:15pm behind the Montgomery Coffee Co. on Main Street, near the Convention Center. They are glossy with gold foil lettering reading 'Montgomery Jazz Fest' and have a perforated edge along the bottom. One ticket bears a tiny coffee stain near the corner and a faint star sticker on the back; the stubs match with the same serial numbers. I know someone out there is missing these and they probably mean a lot for a night out. If these look like yours, we can meet up near the Main Street Library or at the convention center front desk to get them back to you.

Montgomery about 1 month ago

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Found leopard gecko near Capitol Park

I found a small leopard gecko this afternoon around 3:18 PM near Capitol Park on Dexter Ave in Montgomery. It's about 3 inches from snout to tail, with a yellow-tan base color and brown irregular spots. The tail is a bit chubby and has a slight kink at the tip; there’s also a tiny pale scar behind the right eye. It seemed healthy and calm when I picked it up from the sidewalk near the Civil Rights Memorial; I figured it’s someone’s missing pet. I’d love to help reunite it with its owner—someone’s probably worried about this little guy and I’m sure they’d want him back soon.

Montgomery about 1 month ago

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Dark brown Fossil wallet with red interior

I found a dark brown Fossil wallet this morning around 7:35am near the Alabama State Capitol on Dexter Ave, outside the security gates. It's a standard bifold with a slightly worn exterior and a bright red fabric lining that peeks out when you open it. Inside there are a couple of bank cards and a driver's license with a name I can't quite read, along with a tiny photo of a child. A faint coffee stain on the front and a small brass compass keychain tucked in the inner pocket are the only extra identifying marks. If the owner sees this, I'd love to get it back to you—message me here and we can arrange a safe meetup in Montgomery.

Montgomery about 2 months ago

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Gold-tone pendant necklace with heart charm

I found a gold-tone pendant necklace this afternoon around 2:15 pm near the Rosa Parks statue by the Alabama State Capitol on Dexter Ave in Montgomery. It has a slender 18-inch chain and a small heart pendant about the size of a dime. The back of the pendant has a tiny 'M+K' inscription, and the chain shows a few light scratches but is otherwise in good condition. I picked it up after seeing it lying on the sidewalk near the crosswalk; it must mean something to someone. If this sounds like yours, I'm glad to help get it back.

Montgomery 2 months ago

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Vintage coin and stamp collection binder

I found a vintage coin and stamp collection binder this afternoon around 2:15 pm near the Rosa Parks Museum on Dexter Ave, Montgomery. Inside, there's a green two-ring binder stuffed with coin folders and about 40 stamps from the early 1900s; the coins include a worn 1964 silver half-dollar and a few foreign coins, plus a couple stamp catalog numbers I could spot. The binder's spine has a white sticker that reads 'H. Patel Numismatics 1982,' and the bottom-right corner is dented from a small drop. This collection probably means a lot to someone and I’d love to help return it to its owner if possible.

Montgomery 2 months ago