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

Helpful resources for Salt Lake City

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Salt Lake City

found M

Found black hardcover book at Trax stop

I found a black hardcover book at a Trax stop on Main Street between 7:00-7:30 a.m. on 06-26-2026. I intend to get it to UTA lost-and-found in the next few days. Identify the book to claim it.

Salt Lake City about 16 hours ago

found J

Found USB drives downtown Salt Lake City

I FOUND two USB drives on a bench outside the Salt Lake City Main Library at 6:15 p.m. on Tuesday. I tucked them into my bag nearby, hoping the owner would appear, but no one did. The drives have a plain black case and a sticker with 'Work' on one of them, which makes me think they hold something important. I want to return them to the rightful owner through the site and feel a sense of responsibility to help someone recover their work.

near the Main Library, downtown Salt Lake City 13 days ago

found M

Brown Fossil wallet with cards

I found a brown Fossil wallet this afternoon around 2:45pm outside the City Creek Center entrance on Main Street in Salt Lake City. It's a standard bifold, about the size of a credit card holder, in good condition with a small scuff on the bottom edge and a faint coffee stain on the back. Inside there are a few cards and a faded photo tucked in the ID slot, which should help verify ownership. I know losing a wallet is stressful, so I’m hoping to help get it back to its owner—if this sounds like yours, tell me what's in the wallet to confirm.

Salt Lake City about 1 month ago

found P

Teak mid-century coffee table with glass insert

I found a vintage teak coffee table this afternoon around 3:15 pm behind the City Creek Center fountain on Main Street. It's about 48 inches long, 18 inches wide, and has a clear glass insert running down the center. The wood has a warm honey tone, with a couple of light scratches and a faint sun fade on the top from years in sun. There’s a small drawer on one end with a brass pull, and I noticed a tiny pencil initials 'JR' on the bottom of the drawer—maybe a previous owner's mark. If someone’s missing this, I’d really like to help return it.

Salt Lake City about 2 months ago

found P

Gold-tone hoop earrings with heart charm

I found a pair of gold-tone hoop earrings this afternoon around 3:50 pm outside City Creek Center, near the Main Street entrance by the fountain. They're small hoops, about 12 mm, with a delicate silver heart charm dangling from one hoop. One earring has a tiny engraving on the back—“LM”—which could help the owner identify them. They’re in decent condition with a faint scratch along the inner side of the hoop but nothing major. They look like real jewelry, not cheap costume stuff, so I figured they should be returned to their owner rather than sit in my pocket. If these are yours, email me at [email protected] to arrange a meetup near the fountain.

Salt Lake City 3 months ago

found P

Tan leather handbag with scarf and compass keychain

I found a tan pebble-grain leather crossbody this afternoon around 3:15pm outside the Salt Lake City Public Library on 210 E 400 S. It has a small gold-tone logo on the front and a bright red silk scarf tied around the strap. Inside, there’s a brass compass keychain and a receipt from a nearby cafe tucked under a makeup pouch. The bag is in good condition, just a bit dusty from the sidewalk. I’d really like to get it back to its owner; if you recognize these details, I’m happy to hand it over.

Salt Lake City 3 months ago