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 Scranton / Wilkes-Barre? 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 Scranton / Wilkes-Barre; 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 Scranton / Wilkes-Barre with enough detail for the real owner to identify it — while holding back one verifying detail.

Helpful resources for Scranton / Wilkes-Barre

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Scranton / Wilkes-Barre

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FOUND Travel Bags — Scranton / Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, United States

Today around 3:30 p.m., I found a set of Travel Bags outside the Steamtown National Historic Site on Lackawanna Ave in Scranton. They were left on the steps near the entrance, a navy bag and a black bag with worn straps. I checked inside and saw clothes and travel essentials, nothing dangerous, and I brought them to the lost-and-found area at the site. I hope the owner sees this and can reclaim them through the website.

Steamtown entrance, Lackawanna Ave. 3 days ago

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Found Holiday Decorations in Scranton

FOUND: I found a tote of holiday decorations outside Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton around 8:20 AM today. The bag holds garlands, strings of lights, and a small nativity set, all tucked into a plaid tote with a frayed handle. I stood by the pedestrian entrance for a moment, hoping the owner would appear, but no one did. These decorations look like they belong to a family gearing up for Christmas, and I’d love to see them back with their rightful owner.

Steamtown National Historic Site, Scranton 20 days ago

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Found chairs near Public Square, Scranton

I was out for an early coffee run near Public Square in Scranton around 7:45 a.m. today when I spotted three chairs stacked behind a storefront, clearly abandoned but salvageable. There’s a faded oak armchair, a light dining chair, and a small wicker seat; they look sturdy and mostly clean, just dusty from street level. I left them together in a safe spot and snapped a photo, hoping the owner will recognize them when they see this post. If you posted these chairs, please claim them through the site.

Public Square fountain 28 days ago

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Found: wrist watches on a bench near Steamtown

Last Thursday at about 7:45 p.m., I found two wrist watches on a bench outside the Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton. The leather straps were scuffed and the faces showed weathering from daily wear, like someone had hurried to a bus and left them behind. I could imagine the owner circling the area, checking pockets and bags, hoping they were still nearby. I hope whoever lost these sees this and knows someone cared enough to post them here.

near Steamtown National Historic Site about 2 months ago

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Found: Equipment for Various Sports in Scranton

On Tuesday at 6:45 pm, I found a sports gear bag near the main entrance to the Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton. Inside was Equipment for Various Sports—a basketball, a tennis racket, a pair of sneakers, and a water bottle with a faded team logo. I stood there a moment thinking about the person who lost it and how panicked they must be, especially after a long day of practice. I brought the bag to the security desk so it would stay safe, and I’m hoping the owner sees this and claims it through the site. It feels oddly hopeful to know someone might get it back.

Steamtown entrance, near the locomotive display about 2 months ago

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Found postcards near Steamtown, Scranton

While I was walking along Market Street around 2:45 PM on Sunday, I found a small stack of Postcards tucked under a bench near the Steamtown entrance. The cards span decades, with images of Lackawanna Railroad yards, a snow-covered Nay Aug Park, and a few handwritten notes in cursive. It seems someone collected memories here, and I can imagine these being treasured by a neighbor or a grandparent. I’m keeping them on hand here for the owner to claim through the site, hoping to reunite them with their stories.

Near the Steamtown entrance, Market Street, Scranton 2 months ago