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

Helpful resources for Scottsbluff / Panhandle

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Scottsbluff / Panhandle

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Found microwaves near Walmart entrance, Scottsbluff

I was walking along 20th Street in Scottsbluff around 9:30 AM when I found two microwaves sitting near the entrance of the Walmart Supercenter. One is black with a dented door; the other is white with a blue control panel. They looked recently used but in decent shape, with cords still coiled neatly. I can't tell who they belong to, so I'm posting them here in case the owner sees this and recognizes them.

near the Walmart entrance on 20th Street 15 days ago

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Found a train near Scotts Bluff National Monument

I was hiking the trails near Scotts Bluff National Monument when I spotted a small toy train sitting on a bench by the visitor center around 4:15 p.m. on Sunday. It’s a weathered engine with a red caboose, a bit rusty but clearly cared for, and it looks like something a kid or a hobbyist would treasure. I picked it up and brought it inside the monument’s visitor building, hoping the owner will see this note. If this sounds like your train, it’s likely waiting for you at the front desk near the entrance.

Scotts Bluff National Monument Visitor Center 19 days ago

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Found holiday decorations near Riverside Park, Scottsbluff

I was riding my bike past Riverside Park in Scottsbluff around 1:15 p.m. on Tuesday when I found a bag of holiday decorations tucked behind a bench near the park's playground. Inside were a string of colored lights, a wreath, and a few paper snowmen; they looked recently dropped and a little dusty from the river breeze. It seemed like someone had hurried off and left their decorations behind. I tucked them into a safe spot, hoping the owner would recognize them soon.

Riverside Park behind the playground, Scottsbluff 28 days ago

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Found Saxophones near Riverside Park, Scottsbluff

Yesterday afternoon, at about 3:45 PM, I spotted a large black saxophone case tucked under a bench near Riverside Park in Scottsbluff. When I opened it, there were three saxophones, along with a few mouthpieces and some sheet music peeking out. The gear looks well-loved, probably belonging to a student or a local musician, and it seemed important to whoever owns it. I’m posting this here in the hope the rightful owner will recognize the instruments and reclaim them through the site.

Near Riverside Park gazebo, Scottsbluff about 2 months ago

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Found hardcover mystery novel near the public library

I found a hardcover mystery novel yesterday around 3pm near the Scottsbluff Public Library on 18th Street. It's a blue cloth-bound edition, about 6 by 9 inches, with a gold embossed title on the spine and a dust jacket showing a faded map design. The back cover has a coffee ring stain, and the front inside cover hides a small pocket library card and a star-shaped bookmark peeking out. There's a pencil note in the margin that reads 'L. Carter?' and a torn page corner that looks recently handled. It seems someone cared about this book, so I hope to get it back to its owner; I can drop it at the library or arrange a quick meetup nearby.

Scottsbluff / Panhandle 3 months ago

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Black leather handbag with gold hardware, found near monument

I found a black pebbled leather handbag this afternoon around 2:15pm near the Scotts Bluff National Monument parking lot. It’s about 12 inches wide and 9 inches tall, with a long adjustable strap and a gold-tone zipper. Inside there’s a bright pink lining, a small butterfly embroidery on the inside pocket, and a tiny coffee stain on the bottom edge—easy to spot in a bag. A white enamel compass charm hangs from the zipper pull, which is a pretty unique detail. If you recognize it, I’d love to help get it back to its owner.

Scottsbluff / Panhandle 3 months ago