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

Helpful resources for Muncie / Anderson

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Muncie / Anderson

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Belts found at Muncie Mall parking lot

This afternoon, around 3:45 PM, I found a handful of belts in the parking lot at the Muncie Mall, near the entrance by the Food Court. They were tangled together in a small bag that must have fallen from a cart or trunk, perhaps after someone hurried off. It made me think how easy it is to misplace something small after a busy day of errands, and I felt a little relief knowing they might be reunited with their owner soon. I’m keeping them here in case someone recognizes them.

Entrance by the Food Court, Muncie Mall 7 days ago

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Found iPhone 12 Pro in neon-green case

I found an iPhone 12 Pro this afternoon around 3:15 pm outside the Starbucks on Bethel Avenue, near Ball State University. It’s in a neon-green silicone case with a tiny panda sticker on the back and a small coffee-ring mark near the bottom edge. The screen is clean, but there are a couple of light scratches along the bezel and the charging port shows a bit of wear. I know how stressful it is to lose a phone, so I’m hoping the owner will see this and claim it soon—if this is yours, tell me a wallpaper detail or the name of a saved contact and we can arrange a meetup in the same area.

Muncie / Anderson 2 months ago

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Leopard gecko in terrarium found near Walmart

I found a leopard gecko this afternoon around 2:15pm in the parking lot behind the Walmart on Scatterfield Rd in Anderson. It’s about 4 inches long from snout to tail, yellow with brown spots and a bright orange tail. It’s currently in a clear plastic terrarium with a small heat lamp and a tiny water dish; the lid is a bit loose, so I wrapped a rubber band around it to hold it shut. A distinctive feature is a crescent-shaped brown mark behind the right eye, which should help you spot it if it’s yours. If this is yours, message me here and we can meet at the Walmart entrance to get your gecko back.

Muncie / Anderson 3 months ago

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Mid-century oak coffee table with brass trim

I found a mid-century oak coffee table with a glass insert this afternoon around 2:45pm on Main Street, right outside the old Muncie Courthouse near the Adams Street corner. It’s about 4 feet long and 18 inches tall, with a glossy honey oak finish and a brass rim around the glass. There’s a small drawer in the middle with a brass pull, and underneath there’s a faint pencil scribble reading D-57 on the underside. The table shows some wear—a tiny dent on one leg and a scratch across the glass—but it feels sturdy and has a warm vintage vibe. If it belongs to someone, I’d love to help get it back; I can hold onto it for a bit while you swing by the area.

Muncie / Anderson 3 months ago

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Ball State student ID on blue lanyard

I found a Ball State University student ID card this morning around 10:15am in the parking lot behind the BSU Bookstore on West McKinley Ave in Muncie. The card is blue-tinted plastic with the photo of a student in a gray BSU hoodie, and it’s attached to a blue lanyard with the BSU logo. There’s a small coffee stain on the back corner, and the photo corner is slightly bent from being in a pocket. If this is yours, I can return it—these IDs matter and I’d hate for you to be without it; you can reach me at [email protected].

Muncie / Anderson 4 months ago

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Found DeWalt 20V cordless drill

I found a DeWalt 20V cordless drill in a bright yellow hard case this afternoon around 2:45pm behind the Home Depot on Wheeling Avenue in Muncie. The drill is in good working condition, with a few cosmetic scratches on the housing and a worn rubber grip from use. Inside the lid there's a blue painter's tape label with the initials 'KB' written in black marker, plus a small sticker with a partial serial number that starts with 123. I figured someone was probably missing it after a project, so I'm posting here to help reunite you. If you recognize it, share the last digits of the serial or the initials on the tape to confirm.

Muncie / Anderson 5 months ago