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

Helpful resources for North Central FL

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in North Central FL

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Found parrots near UF campus, Gainesville

I found two parrots perched on my front porch this morning at 8:15 AM in northwest Gainesville, not far from the University of Florida campus. The birds are bright green with blue tails, healthy and clearly someone's pets, but they didn’t have any visible bands. They seemed comfortable around people and followed me toward the gate as I moved around the yard. They look well cared for, so I’m sure someone in north central Florida is missing them, likely near the UF area or Kanapaha Gardens. If you recognize them, please check around Gainesville.

Near UF campus, Gainesville 3 days ago

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Found bus tickets near Gainesville bus stop on University Ave

I found these bus tickets this morning around 9:15 a.m. by the Gainesville Regional Transit System stop on University Avenue, not far from the UF campus. They were lying on a bench just outside the main entrance to the bus loop, weather-worn but legible. The tickets belong to someone else, presumably a student or traveler with a trip booked for a North Central Florida route. I picked them up, thinking someone might be frantically searching, and I’m posting them here so the rightful owner can reclaim them quickly. If these are yours, I hope you see this and arrange to pick them up through the site.

Gainesville GRTA stop, University Ave, near UF campus 20 days ago

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FOUND: Travel Adapters in North Central Florida

On Friday around 5:05 pm, after leaving class at the University of Florida, I found a small pouch of travel adapters under a bench near Reitz Union on the Gainesville campus in North Central Florida. The pouch held several universal adapters, a compact USB-C cable, and a crumpled blue travel guide. It looked recently used, with a little sand from a beach trip on the zipper. There was no ID I could see, so I’m listing it here to help the traveler reclaim their gear. If this belongs to you, I hope this helps you reconnect with your trip plans.

near Reitz Union, UF campus, Gainesville, FL about 1 month ago

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Found black Nike running shoes near UF campus

I found a pair of black Nike running shoes this afternoon around 4pm near the UF Bookstore on University Ave, just north of the main campus entrance in Gainesville, FL. They're size 9.5 men’s, in good condition with a small scuff on the left toe and a bright neon-green lace lock that makes them easy to spot. Inside, there’s a tiny stitch heart on the tongue and a skate-logo sticker on the insole—two tiny identifiers I’m using to help the owner recognize them. If these are yours, I’d be happy to return them—tell me where to meet or what details to confirm.

North Central FL 2 months ago

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Queen-size olive-green floral quilt set, monogrammed AS

I found a queen-size olive-green floral quilt set this afternoon near the CVS on Archer Road, just north of the UF campus in Gainesville, North Central Florida. It includes a quilt and two pillow shams; the fabric feels soft with a few pills along the edge from regular use. The pillow shams are monogrammed with white initials 'AS' that stand out against the green print. It obviously belonged to someone who cared for it, and I’d love to get it back to its owner—if you’re out there, message me through the app and we’ll sort out a pickup at the CVS lot or the nearby library.

North Central FL 2 months ago

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Blue Hydro Flask found near downtown library

I found a blue Hydro Flask 21 oz this afternoon around 2:15pm outside the downtown Gainesville Public Library on Main Street. It has a small dent near the base and a faded sticker with a lighthouse graphic. The lid screws on tight, and there’s a faint scratch along the rim. On the cap someone etched the initials 'LK'—could be a helpful clue. If this belongs to you, I'd like to get it back; I know it's important, and we can arrange a meetup near the library.

North Central FL 3 months ago