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

Helpful resources for Provo / Orem

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Provo / Orem

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Found trading cards near Provo City Center Temple

On Saturday around 6:15 p.m., I found a blue binder of trading cards tucked behind a bench near the Provo City Center Temple on Center Street. It looked like someone had just dropped it, with loose sleeves fluttering in the wind and a kid's sticker stuck to the cover. I flipped through quickly and saw a mix of baseball, fantasy, and collectible cards, nothing valuable enough to worry about but clearly important to the owner. I held onto it and brought it to the information desk at the temple, hoping the right person would recognize it. If this belongs to you, please claim it through the site.

near Provo City Center Temple on Center Street 16 days ago

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Found DVDs near Provo Towne Centre Mall

Found a stack of DVDs outside the south entrance of the Provo Towne Centre Mall around 11:20 am today. They were in a black tote bag with a bright blue strap, and the cases range from sci‑fi to action, some with foreign-language covers, all in decent shape. I left them where I found them for now, hoping the owner will recognize the titles and claim them soon. It felt good to be part of a tiny mystery solved, even if I’m not sure who they belong to.

south entrance of Provo Towne Centre Mall 2 months ago

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Tan leather handbag with cactus pin

I found a handbag this morning around 9:15am in the parking lot behind the Provo Library on 550 N University Ave. It's a medium-sized tan leather tote with brass hardware and a few light scuffs from daily use. The zipper pull features a small enamel cactus pin, and there's a pink silk scarf tied around the handle, which makes it stand out. Inside, I saw a small black notebook and a spare set of keys in a side pocket. If this is your bag, I’d like to help return it.

Provo / Orem 5 months ago

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DeWalt 20V drill found near Home Depot

I found a DeWalt 20V cordless drill this afternoon around 1:15pm in the parking lot behind the Home Depot on University Parkway in Orem. It's in a black plastic case, and the drill itself is mostly yellow with a black grip — a little dusty from being outdoors. The battery has a blue painter's tape label with the initials 'A.P.' on it, and the rubber grip shows a slight dent from a drop. I spotted it near the cart return area next to a stack of pallets, so I picked it up to keep it safe. If this is yours, shoot me a message at [email protected] so we can arrange a pickup.

Provo / Orem 5 months ago

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Black Fender Stratocaster found near Provo Towne Centre

I found a black Fender Stratocaster in a padded gig bag this afternoon around 3:15pm behind the Provo Towne Centre near the food court on University Ave. The guitar has a glossy black finish, white pickguard, and a maple neck, with a small dent on the lower bout. There’s a bright blue pineapple sticker on the back of the headstock and the gig bag itself has an orange zipper pull. I know how much a string instrument can mean to someone, and I’d love to get this back to its owner. If this is yours, a quick message is all it takes and we’ll figure out the rest.

Provo / Orem 6 months ago

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Gray tabby with red collar found near Provo Library

I found a cat yesterday around 3pm behind the Provo Library on University Ave. It's a medium-sized gray tabby with a white chest, green eyes, and a red collar with a small silver bell. The cat is in decent shape but a bit shy, and I notice a tiny white star-shaped patch on its left front leg and a small notch in the left ear. It purrs when I pet it and seems comfortable around people, so I’m hoping to reunite it with its owner. If you’re missing a cat like this, please reach out.

Provo / Orem 8 months ago