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

Helpful resources for North Dakota

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in North Dakota

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Found sculptures in North Dakota — please identify.

I found three sculptures earlier today, tucked behind a bench near the north entrance of the state capitol in Bismarck around 4:22 PM. The pieces vary in size, a small bronze figure, a taller abstract form, and a glass topped orb, all stored in a dull canvas bag. There are no tags or receipts, and I could not locate any name or sign that might indicate the owner. The workmanship feels personal and a bit delicate, which makes me want to make sure they get back to the right person. If these belong to you, please check this listing so you can reclaim them.

near the state capitol, Bismarck 16 days ago

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Found sheet music near Fargo Theatre

I found a neat folder wedged behind a bench by the Fargo Theatre after leaving rehearsal. Inside were sheet music pages, all lined with pencil notes and a few coffee stains, clearly used by someone who practiced late. It looked like it carried stories, and I could feel a pinch of worry for the owner who might be searching for it. I brushed off the dust and kept it safe, hoping this listing helps reunite it with its rightful owner.

near the Fargo Theatre 18 days ago

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Found travel visas in Fargo area

On Friday at 7:15 p.m., I found a tan folder labeled Travel Visas on the concrete steps outside the Fargo Theatre on Broadway in downtown Fargo. Inside, there were several visa pages, a passport-sized booklet, and a small receipt with a name that is only partly legible. I picked it up and turned it into the local lost-and-found desk, hoping the owner would see this listing soon. Losing documents like these must be terrifying, and I want to help put them back where they belong. If this sounds like yours, this post is a good shot at reclaiming them.

Sentimental

near the Fargo Theatre, downtown Fargo about 1 month ago

found A

Purple reflective dog harness with lime stitching

Found a purple reflective dog harness with lime-green stitching this morning around 7:45am in the parking lot behind the Dairy Queen on University Drive in Fargo, North Dakota. It's a medium size, adjustable strap, with a small paw-print charm and a quick-release buckle. The harness is in good condition, just a bit dusty from the lot. I know how important a reliable harness is for a dog's safety, so I want to help reunite it with its owner. If this belongs to you, please reach out; I’d like to get it back to you soon.

North Dakota 3 months ago

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Cream quilted duvet cover set with blue piping

I found a cream quilted duvet cover set with blue piping this morning. It's queen size, soft cotton with a delicate geometric quilt pattern. The inner label reads 'Horizon Linen' and there's a small coffee stain on the inside corner, which could help identify it. I found it in the parking lot behind West Acres Shopping Mall on 13th Ave S in Fargo, North Dakota, around 9:15am today. If you recognize it, shoot me a quick message here so I can get it back to you.

North Dakota 4 months ago

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Blue budgie with yellow chest found near UND

I found a small blue budgie with a yellow chest this afternoon perched on a bus stop sign near the University of North Dakota campus in Grand Forks. The bird looks clean and well cared for, with a bright red beak and a tiny white patch on the throat. It has a distinctive blue feather on the left wing and a faint white ring on its right leg, which might be a leg band. I’d really like to help reunite it with its owner—if this sounds like yours, send me a message and we can arrange a meetup near the UND campus or at a local vet.

North Dakota 5 months ago