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

Helpful resources for Odessa / Midland

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Odessa / Midland

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Found an Airline item near Midland International Airport.

Hey, I'm Diego Morales. I found an Airline-branded travel wallet on the curb outside Midland International Airport's North Entrance around 9:20 PM last Friday after a light rain. The tan leather is worn, with the word Airline embossed on the front and a faded boarding pass tucked inside. It seems to belong to someone who was just passing through, and it feels important—like a piece of a larger story. I hope the owner sees this and knows their belongings are safe for now, waiting to be claimed.

North entrance of Midland International Airport, along Heritage Parkway. 6 days ago

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Found: Pocket Watches near Odessa College campus, Odessa

This morning, around 09:05, I found two pocket watches outside the Odessa College main entrance on University Boulevard. One watch is gold with a delicate filigree cover; the other is silver with a simple chain that’s a bit bent. I wrapped them in a clean cloth and left them with campus security to keep them safe until the owner can be traced. They carry the scent of oil and old leather, like a tiny piece of someone’s family history I’d hate to see disappear. If these belong to you, I hope you recognize them when you pass the security desk.

Odessa College main entrance, University Blvd 6 days ago

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Found: a stack of photographs

I was walking my dog along 8th Street in Odessa around 4:20 p.m. when a weathered stack of photographs caught my eye under a bench near the Ector County Courthouse. The faces look like a family album from years ago, with handwritten dates that are barely legible. I can tell someone cherished these; it hurts to think they were leaving a piece of their story behind. I tucked them away and hoped to reunite them with the owner soon. If these photos feel familiar, please reach out through the site so we can get them back to where they belong.

near the Ector County Courthouse on 8th Street, Odessa 2 months ago

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Found organizers near Memorial Park, Midland

Found these organizers this afternoon around 3:40 PM, tucked under a bench near the Memorial Park entrance in Midland, Texas. They are blue and gray fabric pouches meant for cables and small gear, with a few tags still attached. I checked around the path and nearby trash cans, but there was no one looking for them. They look like they belong to someone who travels light for work and likes to keep things tidy. If you are missing them, please check this post on the site and claim them through the proper channel.

Memorial Park entrance, Midland 3 months ago

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Found: two ID cards in navy lanyard

I found two ID cards this afternoon around 3:45pm in the Midland Park Mall parking lot, near the JCPenney entrance. They were tucked into a clear badge sleeve on a navy blue lanyard, a bit scuffed from the rain. One card looks like a City of Odessa employee badge with a photo of a woman named Maria Lopez; the other is a Midland College student ID with a small library access sticker on the back. There’s a tiny gold star sticker on the back of the badge sleeve that makes them stand out. They’re legible, and I’d like to help get them back to their owner if anyone recognizes them.

Odessa / Midland 3 months ago

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Navy blue puffer jacket with orange interior

I found a navy blue puffer jacket with an orange interior this afternoon around 2:15 pm in the parking lot behind Midland Park Mall on Big Spring Street. It's a men's size L, The North Face, in solid condition with a couple of light scuffs on the sleeve. A small blue enamel pin in the shape of a wave is on the zipper and there's a faded "UTPB" label inside. If this sounds like yours, drop me a message here and we can arrange the return.

Odessa / Midland 3 months ago