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

Helpful resources for Raleigh / Durham / CH

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Raleigh / Durham / CH

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Found keyboards in Chapel Hill, NC

I was walking across Chapel Hill's Franklin Street near the UNC campus around 11:30 a.m. when I spotted two keyboards tucked behind a chair outside the Student Union. One is a black 61-key MIDI controller, the other a full-size keyboard with a few stickers on the case. They looked used but cared for, like someone might be practicing or teaching with them. I’m posting here to help reunite them with their owner through the site.

UNC Chapel Hill Student Union, Franklin Street 8 days ago

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found dolls near Duke Chapel

I was walking through the Duke University campus area in Durham around 3:20 p.m. today when I found a small porcelain doll propped up against a bench near the Duke Chapel. She wears a faded blue dress and a crocheted hat, and her glass eyes catch the late afternoon light. She seems to have traveled far from a child's bedside, and I left her in a safe spot on campus, hoping the person who cares about her would see this listing.

Near Duke Chapel, Duke University campus 14 days ago

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Found terrariums on UNC campus bench

I was walking away from the Ackland Art Museum on the UNC-Chapel Hill campus around 2:30 p.m. on Saturday when I spotted two terrariums resting on a bench by the entrance. They looked lovingly cared for, with moss, tiny plants, and decorative rocks visible through clear glass, as if someone had made a tiny greenhouse in a jar. I left them in place for a moment to be sure they weren’t knocked over, then kept an eye on the bench as I continued my walk. They seem well-loved and likely have a story behind them.

Bench by Ackland Art Museum, UNC Chapel Hill about 1 month ago

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Found drones near UNC Chapel Hill campus

I was walking back to my car near the UNC Chapel Hill Student Union around 7:15 PM on a Wednesday when I spotted two drones lying behind a bench near the fountain. They have red prop guards and a gray carry case, and one screen still faintly shows a flight log. I picked them up and carried them to the campus security desk, hoping to reunite them with their owner, but there was no one waiting for them. If these belong to you, I hope you see this — they looked fairly new and ready to capture memories of an evening on Franklin Street.

UNC Chapel Hill Student Union area, Franklin Street 3 months ago

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Blue nylon dog harness with reflective trim

I found a blue nylon dog harness with reflective trim this afternoon around 2:45pm outside the Harris Teeter at Cameron Village in Raleigh. It's a medium size with an adjustable strap and a sturdy black plastic buckle. There's a small teal paw-print charm dangling from the leash ring, and a thin lime-green stitch along the edges. The harness looks in decent shape, a little dusty from the sidewalk but clean and intact. I spotted it near the cart corral by the store entrance and grabbed it hoping to help its owner. If this is yours, message me with something only you would know about the item (like the exact size or a detail from the tag) and we can figure out a quick meetup near Cameron Village.

Raleigh / Durham / CH 3 months ago

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Blue Yeti USB microphone found near Varsity Theatre

I found a Blue Yeti USB microphone this afternoon around 3:15pm outside the Varsity Theatre on Franklin Street in Chapel Hill. It's a glossy black mic with the distinctive silver grille, and a small red pop filter is still clipped to the front. The braided USB-B cable is attached, and there’s a tiny dent on the edge of the tripod stand. It was sitting on a bench near the campus bookstore by the bus stop, looking recently used. It seems like something a student or creator would own, probably valuable to whoever uses it for podcasts or recorded lectures. I’m holding onto it at the front desk of the UNC Student Union until the owner claims it.

Raleigh / Durham / CH 4 months ago