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

Helpful resources for Sarasota-Bradenton

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Sarasota-Bradenton

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Found: Travel Adapters in Sarasota-Bradenton, Florida

Found my travel adapters this afternoon, around 4:40 PM, near the entrance of The Mall at University Town Center in Sarasota. I spotted a small black zip pouch peeking out from under a bench by the food court, with several universal adapters and a charging cable still attached. They’re a practical set for a frequent traveler, and I know how stressful it is to misplace mismatched plugs in a new country. I’m sharing what I found because I’d want someone to get these back if they were mine, and I’ll keep them safe here until the rightful owner claims them.

near UTC Mall entrance, Sarasota 11 days ago

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Found plush dragon toy near UTC entrance

I found this plush dragon toy this afternoon around 4:15pm outside the main entrance of the University Town Center (UTC) in Sarasota, right by the fountain near the valet area. It's about 12 inches tall, purple with a lime-green belly, orange felt horns, and a small blue star patch on the left wing. One eye is stitched a bit crooked, and there's a tiny frayed thread on the tail from being loved. It clearly looks like a kid's favorite—soft and well-loved—and I held onto it to help someone reclaim it. If this is yours, send a quick message here and we can arrange a safe pickup in the UTC area.

Sarasota-Bradenton about 1 month ago

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Black Dell Latitude laptop with charger

I found a black Dell Latitude laptop with charger this afternoon around 3:15 pm in the parking lot behind the University Town Center on University Parkway in Sarasota-Bradenton. It’s resting in a slim black case with a blue USB-C charging cable still plugged in, and there’s a small yellow sticker with the initials MV on the lid. The lid has a faint scratch along the top edge, and the Dell logo is clearly visible when you open it. The screen was off when I found it, but it boots and the keyboard looks clean with light wear. If this looks like yours, DM me here and we can arrange a safe pickup near UTC.

Sarasota-Bradenton about 1 month ago

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Navy blue satin gown with detachable silver belt

I found this navy blue satin evening gown this afternoon around 3:15 pm in the parking lot behind The Mall at UTC in Sarasota, in the Sarasota-Bradenton area. It's a floor-length size 8 gown by Adrianna Papell, with a detachable silver beaded belt. It's in great condition overall, just a tiny snag on the left hem that's easily fixable. The inside lining has a small heart-shaped pin with the initials 'K.L.' as a unique feature. If this sounds like yours, send me a note here and we can figure out a safe pickup near the UTC entrance.

Sarasota-Bradenton about 2 months ago

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Found paperback copy of The Night Circus near Selby Library

I found a paperback copy of The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern this afternoon around 3:15pm, outside the Selby Public Library on Main Street in Sarasota. The cover is cream with a pale blue illustration, and the edges are a bit sun-worn with a faint coffee ring on the back. Inside, there’s a blue library sticker on the inner cover and a small yellow Post-it tucked between pages 95-100 with a dolphin doodle that makes it easy to spot. It's well-loved but in good condition, with a few creases on the spine and slight edge tanning. If the owner sees this, I'm happy to coordinate a pickup at the library desk.

Sarasota-Bradenton about 2 months ago

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Gold ring with ruby and engraving inside

I found a gold ring yesterday around 4pm near the St. Armands Circle fountain in the Sarasota-Bradenton area, right by the brick sidewalk outside the little cafe. It's a 14k yellow gold band, about 1.8 mm wide, with a tiny round ruby set in a bezel. Inside there's an engraving that reads 'M.B. 1999' and a faint floral pattern along the outer edge; it has a brushed finish and a small scratch from wear. I picked it up because it looked valuable and I really want to help reunite it with its owner—if this sounds like yours, send a message here and we can arrange a safe meetup to verify.

Sarasota-Bradenton about 2 months ago