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

Helpful resources for Rochester

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Rochester

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Found coins near Eastman Theatre, Rochester.

I was walking along Gibbs Street by the Eastman Theatre at 9:15 a.m. today when I spotted a small pile of coins lying near a cafe curb. There were pennies dating back to the 1990s, a handful of nickels, and a shiny dime that caught the morning light. I picked them up and tucked them into a pouch, hoping the owner would recognize them and reclaim them. I’m posting here to help because coins carry little stories, and I’d be glad to see these find their home again.

Sentimental

Near Gibbs Street by Eastman Theatre, Rochester 13 days ago

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Found passports in Rochester, New York

I was walking along Gibbs Street by the Eastman Theatre in Rochester around 4:15 p.m. today when I found a passport holder lying on the sidewalk. Inside were several passports and a small wallet, all tucked securely in an old blue case. I picked them up and kept them safe, because losing a passport can throw someone's whole life into confusion. I’ve posted this here so the owner can be reunited with their documents through the site.

Sentimental

Near Eastman Theatre on Gibbs Street 18 days ago

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Found: Equipment for Various Sports

I was walking near the Rochester Public Market on Union Street around 3:50 pm Tuesday when I spotted a bag on a bench with gear for several sports. Inside there are two tennis rackets, a basketball, a lacrosse stick, shin guards, a water bottle, and a whistle. It looks well-used and was left unattended for a moment in a breezy open area. I picked it up and kept an eye out, figuring someone almost certainly forgot it. If these items sound familiar, they probably belong to you and I’d like to help get them back.

Sentimental

Rochester Public Market, Union Street 22 days ago

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Found: Belts near Rochester Public Market

I found these belts around 5:20 p.m. Friday, tucked between a bench and a trash can on Gibbs Street, just outside the Rochester Public Market. The brown leather strap had a well-worn feel and a brass buckle that catches the light when the sun slides behind the old brick storefronts. I know how important something like this can be to someone who wears them daily, so I kept them safe and posted them here, hoping to reunite them with their owner. If the right person sees these, I hope they will recognize the smell of leather, the stitching, and the way the buckle has aged with time.

Gibbs St near the Rochester Public Market 24 days ago

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FOUND: Sheet Music in Rochester

I was walking back from a rehearsal in the Eastman Theatre area on Gibbs Street when I spotted a crumpled stack of sheet music on a bench by the sidewalk. I picked it up and saw the front cover with the title 'Moonlight in D' and a name penciled inside: 'Alex Carter.' It clearly belonged to someone else, and I felt a sense of responsibility to return it. I tucked the music into my jacket and started this post because it felt right to reunite it with its owner. If you recognize it or notice the same handwriting, please get in touch through the site.

Eastman Theatre, Gibbs Street, Rochester about 1 month ago

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DeWalt 20V drill with yellow case

I found a DeWalt 20V cordless drill this afternoon around 2:15pm in the parking lot behind the Rochester Public Market on North Union Street. It's in a bright yellow and black hard case, a bit scuffed from use. The drill has a small dent near the chuck and there’s a red Sharpie note on the case that reads 'Rochester Makers' plus a tiny sticker with the initials 'RM' stuck on the battery. Inside the case there are two batteries and a magnetic tray with a few drill bits. I figured someone might be frantically searching for it, so I kept it safe and would love to help get it back to its owner.

Rochester about 2 months ago