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

Helpful resources for New York City

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in New York City

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found Sheet Music in NYC

I found this Sheet Music on a bench near Bryant Park around 2:30 p.m. on Thursday while heading to a rehearsal. The worn folder holds several pages edged with pencil notes and a cover that reads 'Violin Concerto in D major' in someone’s handwriting. There’s no name on the outside, just a concert program slipped inside. The day was bright, the park was busy, and I kept the piece safe in my bag and turned it in here so the owner can claim it through the site. I hope the owner sees this post and is soon reunited with it.

Bryant Park, near the 42nd St entrance 1 day ago

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Black iPhone 12 Pro with blue OtterBox case

I found a black iPhone 12 Pro this afternoon around 3:15pm on the sidewalk outside Grand Central Terminal, near the 42nd Street entrance. It's in a bright blue OtterBox case with a white paw-print sticker on the back and a small crack across the top-left corner of the screen. The phone is a little scratched along the right edge, but it powered on and showed a few photos when I opened it. If this belongs to you, DM me with a detail like the wallpaper or the contact name in the last message, and we can arrange to get it back.

New York City about 2 months ago

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Framed abstract painting with orange accents

I found a framed abstract painting with orange and teal swirls this afternoon around 2:15pm outside Chelsea Market on 9th Ave between 15th and 16th Street. It’s an 18x24 inch oil on canvas in a black wood frame with a small dent at the lower right corner. There’s a back sticker that reads 'M. Ortega, 2023' and a faint fingerprint on the glass. It looks meaningful and I’d really like to see it go back to its owner — if you’re missing it, I’m happy to help reunite you.

New York City 2 months ago

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White AirPods Pro charging case with purple heart sticker

I found a white AirPods Pro charging case this afternoon around 3:15pm near the Union Square subway entrance on 14th Street, NYC. It's in good condition with just a tiny scratch on the lid and a purple heart sticker on the back for identification. I’ve kept it safe in a tote for the last hour, hoping to reunite it with its owner soon—these earbuds are meaningful to someone. If this is yours, describe the sticker detail or the approximate battery level and we can arrange a pickup or mail-back.

New York City 4 months ago

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Gold-tone hoop earrings with crystals

I found a pair of gold-tone hoop earrings this afternoon around 2:15pm near Union Square Park, outside the 14th Street subway entrance. They’re medium-sized hoops, about 1.5 inches in diameter, with a row of small clear crystals along the outer edge. The back clasp has a tiny crescent moon stamp, and the inner side has a small teal enamel dot—nice little details that caught my eye. They seem in good condition, just a bit dusty from being on the ground. If these belong to you, I’d really like to help reunite you with them.

New York City 4 months ago

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Black universal travel adapter with red cap

I found a compact universal travel adapter set this afternoon around 4pm near the Port Authority Bus Terminal, at 8th Ave and 42nd Street. It's in a matte black plastic case with a bright red silicone cap on one outlet and a small label etched 'TravelMate 3.0' on the back. The plug supports US/EU/UK/AU and there are USB-C and USB-A ports; it powered up fine when I tested it with my charger. The adapter shows a few micro-scratches from being carried in a bag, but it's in solid working condition. If this is yours, I'm happy to help you get it back.

New York City 4 months ago