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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 Northwest KS? Handling it responsibly protects both you and the owner. Rules vary by location, but the principles are consistent.

  1. Make a reasonable effort to find the owner. Check for ID, contact details, or anything that identifies who it belongs to.
  2. 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.
  3. Hand valuables to the authorities. Report significant or high-value finds to the police non-emergency line for Northwest KS; they'll log it and may issue a reference.
  4. Store it safely. Keep the item secure and unchanged while you try to return it.
  5. Post a found listing. Add a found-item listing for Northwest KS with enough detail for the real owner to identify it — while holding back one verifying detail.

Helpful resources for Northwest KS

Recent reports in Northwest KS

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Found Devices – Northwest KS, Kansas

Thursday at 6:20 pm, I found a backpack sitting on a bench near the Fort Hays State University campus in Northwest KS. Inside were several devices—a laptop, a phone, a charger, and earbuds. I felt a rush of responsibility and relief thinking someone out there might be panicking over their gear. I picked it up, kept everything together, and brought it to campus security, hoping the owner will claim it soon. If you’re missing devices, I hope you see this and know someone cared enough to hold onto them for you.

Sentimental
near Fort Hays State University campus 10 days ago
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Found holiday decorations in Northwest Kansas

I was tidying up the Goodland Community Center foyer around 7:20 PM last Friday after the Christmas festival, and a tote tucked behind a chair caught my attention. Inside were holiday decorations: string lights, garlands, and a wreath with a bright red ribbon. I felt a mix of curiosity and relief—these looked like something a neighbor had been planning to display for a family gathering. I brought the tote to the front desk and posted it here, hoping the owner will recognize the keepsakes and claim them through the site. Sometimes small things like these carry a lot of memories, and I’m glad to help reunite them.

Near the Goodland Post Office about 1 month ago
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Golden retriever mix with orange collar

I found a dog this morning around 9am wandering behind the Wal-Mart on 41st Street in Hays, Northwest KS. It's a medium-sized golden retriever mix, about 50 pounds, with a tan coat and a darker muzzle. It's wearing an orange nylon collar with a reflective strip and a tag that reads 'Rex'. There's a small white patch on its chest and a tiny notch in the left ear that makes him easy to spot. He looked a little tired but friendly and wagged when I approached; I'm keeping him safe and hoping to reunite him with his people soon.

Northwest KS 3 months ago
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Well-worn Lonely Planet travel guide found

I found a well-worn Lonely Planet Western US travel guide this afternoon around 2:15pm, here in Northwest Kansas, tucked under a bench in the parking lot behind the Hays Public Library on 9th Street. It's a paperback with an orange cover, about 1.5 inches thick, and the spine is creased from heavy use. There's a blue bookmark with the initials 'S.J.' peeking out, and a small map folded in the back cover that shows the California coast. It looks like it's been in someone’s bag for a while, with a coffee stain on the top edge. If you’re the owner, I’d be happy to return it in person at the library—hope to reunite it with its owner soon!

Northwest KS 3 months ago
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Found Akai MPK Mini MKII MIDI keyboard

I found a compact Akai MPK Mini MKII USB MIDI keyboard this afternoon around 3:15pm in the parking lot behind The Music Exchange on 2nd Ave, downtown Hays, NW KS. It’s black with 25 keys and 8 green pads along the top—perfect pocket-size for travel and practice. There’s a blue star sticker on the back panel and a small dent near the USB port that makes it easy to spot. I’m hoping to reunite it with its owner; if you recognize these details, you probably know where it belongs.

Northwest KS 3 months ago
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Space Gray iPad Pro 11-inch found near Hays

I found a Space Gray iPad Pro 11-inch this afternoon around 3:15pm behind the Market Street Market on 12th Street in Hays, Northwest Kansas. It's snug in a black neoprene sleeve with a blue sticker on the back that has the initials 'J.D.' and there's an Apple Pencil attached on the side. The screen saver shows a family photo from a recent trip, and the device seems well cared for overall, with only a few tiny scratches on the corner. I’m sure it matters to someone, so I’m hoping to reunite it with its owner. If this is yours, describe a detail from the device—like the wallpaper or the sticker—for verification, and I’ll hand it back.

Northwest KS 5 months ago