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 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 22 days ago

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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 about 2 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 3 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 4 months ago

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Charcoal North Face parka with orange lining found

I found this charcoal-gray North Face parka this afternoon around 2:15 PM near the Fargo Theatre on Broadway in Fargo, ND. It's a men's size Large with a detachable faux-fur hood, a bright orange inner lining, and two zippered pockets. There’s a small snag on the left elbow and an embroidered initials 'KP' on the inside label, plus a faded hotel key card tucked into the inner pocket. The coat looks in good shape overall and clearly belongs to someone who might miss it. If this sounds like yours, I’d love to help reunite you with it.

North Dakota 4 months ago

found P

Found vintage coin and stamp collection in Fargo display case

I found a small red velvet-lined display box this afternoon around 4:15 pm outside the Fargo Theatre on Broadway in Fargo, North Dakota. The box is about 6 by 5 inches with a clear lid and a brass latch that still shines. Inside there’s a vintage coin collection—roughly 25 coins in various patinas, some with nicked edges and a couple from the early 1900s. There’s also a tiny binder of stamps with a green label and a handwritten tag that reads 'North Dakota Numismatics Club.' One coin bears a mint mark I can’t fully read, and a stamp shows a distinctive green cancellation. If this belongs to someone, I’d really like to help reunite them with it.

North Dakota 7 months ago