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

Helpful resources for Philadelphia

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Philadelphia

found P

Black Anker PowerCore 20k mAh charger

I found a black Anker PowerCore 20,000 mAh portable charger this afternoon around 2:45pm outside the Reading Terminal Market entrance on 12th Street. It's in decent shape, with a couple of light scratches on the aluminum shell and a small dent near the USB-C port. There’s a blue fabric sleeve on the cable and a tiny white tag that reads A12. It looks like someone relies on this for daily use, so I know how stressful it can be to lose a backup battery. If this belongs to you, I’m happy to help arrange pickup with the market desk or meet nearby.

Philadelphia about 1 month ago

found P

Silver necklace with pearl pendant, Philadelphia

I found a sterling silver necklace this afternoon around 3pm near Reading Terminal Market on Market Street. It's an 18-inch chain with a small heart pendant that has a tiny pink enamel flower and a faint pearl inlay. The clasp shows a slight bend and there are a couple of tiny scratches, but it's otherwise in good condition. It feels sentimental, and I’d love to get it back to its owner if anyone recognizes it.

Philadelphia about 2 months ago

found P

Keys with blue fox charm found near Reading Terminal Market

I found a set of keys this afternoon around 3:15 pm near Reading Terminal Market on Market Street in Philadelphia. They’re on a brushed-nickel ring with about seven keys and a bright blue silicone fox charm attached. One key has a small red heart sticker on the handle, and there’s a tiny black USB drive clipped to the ring. The fox charm is easy to spot, and the keys look recently used but in decent condition. If anyone recognizes them, I’d be happy to return them to the owner; they seemed important and I’d hate for someone to be without their stuff.

Philadelphia about 2 months ago

found P

Found Nintendo Switch OLED with panda sticker near Love Park

Found a Nintendo Switch OLED this afternoon around 3:45pm outside the Love Park statue at 15th St and JFK Blvd in Philadelphia. It's in a black protective case with a panda sticker on the back, and the Joy-Cons are blue and red. The screen is clean, with a couple of faint scratches along the top edge, and the dock has a tiny dent on the corner. The home screen shows a few game icons, including Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. If this is yours, please email [email protected] to arrange pickup; I know how stressful losing a game setup can be, and I would love to get it back to its owner.

Philadelphia 2 months ago

found P

Black DeWalt cordless drill with yellow accents

I found a black DeWalt cordless drill with yellow accents this afternoon around 2:15 PM outside the CVS on 12th Street and Market in Philadelphia. The drill is mid-size, clean, and still feels solid, with a rubber grip and a tiny red dent on the side and a cracked battery indicator window. It came with a charger and a worn black carrying bag, the zipper is busted. If this belongs to you, please reach out so we can arrange a quick meetup near City Hall to return it.

Philadelphia 2 months ago

found P

Emerald green strapless gown; found near Rittenhouse Square

I found an emerald green satin gown this afternoon around 2:15pm near Rittenhouse Square, by the 18th Street entrance. It's a size US 8, brand Adrianna Papell, with a thin silver sequin belt at the waist. The dress is in good condition, a bit wrinkled from being on the grass, and the zipper works fine with no stains. Inside the lining there's a small embroidered initial 'L.M.' on a tag and a discreet pocket, so it stands out. If someone lost it, I'd really like to get it back to you—it's clearly valuable and seems meaningful for a special event.

Philadelphia 3 months ago