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

Helpful resources for Orlando

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Orlando

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Found wrist watches near Lake Eola fountain

At 6:45 p.m. on Thursday, by the Lake Eola fountain, I found two wrist watches lying on the damp concrete near the grass. One had a blue nylon strap, the other a worn brown leather band, both ticking away like they belonged to someone who loves timepieces. I picked them up, wiped them free of a few raindrops, and tucked them into my jacket pocket for safekeeping. It feels strange to imagine someone elsewhere panicking about missing their watch, and I want to see them go back to their rightful owner. If these are yours, you’ll know it when you see the engraving on the back.

by the Lake Eola fountain 1 day ago

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Found: bus tickets near Lake Eola Park, Orlando.

This morning, around 9:15 a.m., I found a stack of bus tickets crumpled under a bench by the Lake Eola fountain in Orlando. They show recent use, routes and dates still legible. I tucked them into my jacket and am posting this so the rightful owner can see they’re here and be reunited with them. It felt right to do something thoughtful, since someone relied on those trips and would be relieved to have them back.

by Lake Eola fountain, Orlando about 1 month ago

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FOUND: Holiday decorations in a tote near Lake Eola.

I found these holiday decorations tonight around 6:15 p.m. behind a bench near the Lake Eola fountain in downtown Orlando. A blue tote held red-and-green garland, a string of multicolor lights, and a few dusty ornament boxes, damp from an earlier shower. They looked like someone was prepping a festive display, not trash, so I tucked the tote in a safer spot near the railing and left a note nearby. It always hurts a little when holiday things go missing right before gatherings, so I hope the owner spots this listing and recognizes their decorations soon.

near Lake Eola Park about 1 month ago

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Found equipment for various sports in Orlando

I found a mismatched bag of sports gear this afternoon near the Lake Eola fountain in Orlando. Around 2:30 PM on Tuesday, I spotted a gray backpack abandoned on a bench and decided to check inside. There is a tennis racket, a basketball, a pair of sneakers, and a handful of water bottles from different teams. If these items belong to you, I am posting here to help you claim them quickly, and I will keep them safe for now in case the owner shows up.

Near Lake Eola Park fountain, downtown Orlando about 2 months ago

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Found microwaves near Lake Eola Park, Orlando.

I was walking my dog around Lake Eola Park this morning at about 7:15 a.m. when I found several microwaves behind a storage shed near the CVS on East Colonial Drive, not far from the lake. They look used but functional and are dusty from being outside. I stacked them together to keep them from cluttering the walkway and to help the owner recognize them. If these belong to you, please reach out through the site with any distinguishing marks; I’d love to help you get them back.

Sentimental

Near Lake Eola Park, East Colonial Drive 3 months ago

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Found Organizers near Church Street, Orlando

I was leaving lunchtime along Church Street around 1:45 p.m. today when I spotted a tote labeled Organizers sitting on a bench near City Hall Plaza. I opened it to glance at the contents and saw event materials, lanyards, and printed sheets, all untouched. I carried it to security at the Dr. Phillips Center area and waited for the owner to claim it, hoping this helps someone in a hurry. I know a person's day could hinge on a missing bag like this, so I'm hoping it lands back with its rightful owner soon.

near Lake Eola Park, downtown Orlando 3 months ago