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

Helpful resources for Palm Beach County

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Palm Beach County

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Found someone else’s quilts in Palm Beach County

Yesterday afternoon, around 5:20 PM, I was leaving The Gardens Mall in Palm Beach Gardens when I spotted a stack of quilts left by the entrance. They looked well-used, with pastel blues and creams and a few floral patches. I picked them up and carried them to the security desk so they wouldn’t get kicked around by foot traffic. If these quilts belong to you, you’ll recognize the fabric patterns and the small faded safety pin tucked in one pocket. I am hoping the owner sees this and claims them through the site.

Sentimental

outside The Gardens Mall entrance, Palm Beach Gardens 1 day ago

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Found USB drives in Palm Beach County

FOUND: I found these USB drives this morning, around 9:15 a.m., in the parking lot behind Town Center at Boca Raton on Glades Road, near the east entrance. They’re three drives tucked in a small black plastic case. I don’t know what’s on them, but they looked like they held work or school files, possibly important. I tucked the case away to keep them safe and figure the rightful owner would want them back. It’s a reminder how a small object can carry a big chunk of someone’s day.

near the east entrance of Town Center at Boca Raton on Glades Road about 2 months ago

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Found: VIP Kravis Center concert tickets

I found a pair of VIP Kravis Center concert tickets this morning around 9:15 am behind the parking garage near the Kravis Center on Okeechobee Blvd in West Palm Beach. They're for the Sunset Serenade show, two consecutive seats in Row 12, Seats 7 and 8, tucked into a white glossy sleeve with a blue border. The barcode is still visible, but the top edge has a small crease and there is a blue sticker with the date stuck on one ticket. If these belong to you, I would be glad to get them back—I know how disappointing it would be to miss a night you were really looking forward to.

Palm Beach County 3 months ago

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Found: Gold Ray-Ban round metal glasses

I found these yesterday around 4pm in the Publix parking lot off Okeechobee Blvd in West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County. They're gold-tone Ray-Ban Round metal frames with clear lenses, in good overall condition with a tiny scratch near the bottom-left lens. The inside of the right temple is engraved with the initials 'LJ', and they came with a teal microfiber pouch that has an anchor charm on the zipper. If these belong to you, please reach out and I’ll hold onto them here until you claim them.

Palm Beach County 4 months ago

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Found blue Adidas tennis racket with initials ML

I found this blue Adidas tennis racket this afternoon around 4pm in the parking lot behind the Delray Beach Tennis Center on Atlantic Avenue, right here in Palm Beach County. It's in decent condition; strings are intact and the grip is a bit slick but not torn. There's a small scuff on the top-right of the frame and a sticker with the initials ML on the throat. If it's yours, email me at [email protected] and we can arrange pickup near the center.

Palm Beach County 4 months ago

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Found DeWalt 20V cordless drill

I found a DeWalt 20V cordless drill this morning around 11:15am in the parking lot behind the Lowe's on Glades Road in Boca Raton, Palm Beach County. It's primarily yellow with black accents, and the chuck is a little scratched. The battery is missing, but the charger was tucked into a small bag near the drill. A sticker with the initials 'JD' sits on the side and there’s a faint blue painter’s tape mark along the battery contact—hard to miss if you know what you’re looking for. If this is yours, message me so we can verify the model and serial number and arrange a safe pickup nearby.

Palm Beach County 5 months ago