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

Helpful resources for North Jersey

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in North Jersey

found N

Found travel visas near Journal Square PATH Station, Jersey City

Today, around 4:15 PM, I found a folder containing travel visas on a bench outside a cafe near Journal Square PATH Station in Jersey City. It looked official enough to give anyone pause, with a brown folder and a few passport-sized photos peeking out. I tucked it under my jacket to keep it safe while I scanned the area for anyone lingering nearby, but no one seemed to be looking for it. I know how important these papers are, and I would want the owner to have them returned quickly.

Journal Square PATH Station, Jersey City 18 days ago

found A

Found these postcards near Montclair Public Library.

Hey there, I’m Alex Rivera. I found these postcards this afternoon while wandering past the Montclair Public Library on South Park Street, around 3:20 p.m. today. They’re a little worn, with stamps from trips years ago, and a neat photo tucked between a couple of cards. It felt like stumbling into someone else’s family memories, and I couldn’t just walk off with them. I kept them in my tote for now, hoping the owner sees this and recognizes their own keepsakes. They’re a tiny time capsule, and I’d love to help reunite them with the owner.

outside the Montclair Public Library, South Park Street entrance 22 days ago

found D

Found sheet music near Grove Street PATH station

I found a weathered folder with sheet music on a bench by the Grove Street PATH entrance in Jersey City around 4:15 p.m. last Tuesday. The pages were a little damp from the drizzle, but the notes were readable and clean. I opened the folder and saw a few markings that suggested it belonged to a student, but there was no name. If these belong to someone, I hope they are reunited with the musician who left them behind.

by the Grove Street PATH entrance 29 days ago

found P

Blue plush unicorn with rainbow mane found near Paramus

I found a blue plush unicorn, about 12 inches tall, in the parking lot behind the Target at Garden State Plaza in Paramus this afternoon around 2:15pm. It has a rainbow mane, a white horn, and a pink star on its flank. The fabric is soft but there's a tiny snag on the left ear and a faint outline of a name tag on the back. It clearly belongs to a kid—I'm sure someone is missing it. If this is yours, reply here and we can arrange a meetup in the mall parking lot.

North Jersey about 1 month ago

found M

Mid-century teak coffee table with glass insert

Found a mid-century teak coffee table this afternoon around 2:15pm behind the Macy's entrance at Willowbrook Mall in Wayne, North Jersey. It’s about 48 inches long and 18 inches wide, with a clear glass insert that sits in a warm teak frame. The table is in decent shape with a couple of water ring marks and a tiny dent on the front corner. A unique feature: a subtly carved sunburst motif along the underside edge that’s easy to feel with a finger. If this is yours, shoot me a note at [email protected] with any details to verify and we’ll figure out pickup or delivery nearby.

North Jersey 2 months ago

found P

Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones, Audio & Video Equipment

I found a pair of Sony WH-1000XM4 wireless headphones in matte black this afternoon around 2:15 PM in the parking lot behind the Montclair Center on Bloomfield Ave, North Jersey. They are in decent shape, with a small dent on the left ear cup and a blue sticker with the initials 'AK' on the inside of the headband. The included carry pouch and a USB-C cable are tucked in the front pocket. If these are yours, I would really like to help return them; these headphones mean a lot to someone and I know how stressful it is to lose them.

North Jersey 4 months ago