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

found A

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 8 days ago

found A

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 25 days ago

found L

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 about 2 months ago

found A

Orange Halloween wreath with glitter bat

Found this orange Halloween wreath this afternoon around 3:15pm outside the main entrance of Crabtree Valley Mall on Glenwood Ave in Raleigh. It's about 14 inches across, foam material, with a black glitter bat in the center and a small green leaf on the side; there's a light scuff on the rim from sliding it off a display. It looks fairly new and would be easy to miss in a seasonal setup, which makes me think it belongs to someone prepping for the season. If this is yours, send me a message here and we can arrange a quick handoff near the mall parking lot.

Raleigh / Durham / CH 3 months ago

found P

ProMark 5A drumsticks with blue sticker

I found a pair of ProMark 5A drumsticks this afternoon around 3:15pm behind the Durham Bulls Athletic Park, near the back entrance on Blackwell Street. They’re natural wood with white tips, a bit scuffed from regular practice, and one stick shows a small dent near the tip. The two sticks were tucked into a small black drawstring bag labeled 'Practice Kit' in faded silver letters. One of them has a bright blue sticker with the initials 'JR' on the grip, which helps identify it. They look like they belong to a local musician who plays around Chapel Hill or Durham, maybe a student. If these are yours, send me a message here and we can arrange a meetup to get them back to you.

Raleigh / Durham / CH 4 months ago

found P

DeWalt 20V cordless drill with case, red/black

I found a DeWalt 20V cordless drill with a black hard case this afternoon around 2:45pm in the parking lot behind the Home Depot on Wake Forest Road in Raleigh. It's a compact red-and-black drill, with a slightly worn grip and a chipped label near the battery. The case has two drill bits and a charger; there's blue painter's tape with the initials 'NR' on the handle, and a faded sticker that reads 'NR Builders' on the case. If this belongs to you, I'm happy to return it—describe the blue tape initials or the battery model to confirm ownership and we can meet up near the store.

Raleigh / Durham / CH 6 months ago