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 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 8 days ago

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Found Passports near Steamtown, Scranton

I found Passports on the sidewalk outside Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton around 4:45 p.m. today, while I was walking back from a coffee shop on Market Street. The blue covers catch the light, and one shows a sticker on the back; I picked them up and kept them safe, hoping to reunite them with the rightful owner. Please check in via the site and tell me what to do next if you’re missing these Passports— I’d like to help get them home.

near Steamtown National Historic Site, Scranton 19 days ago

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Blue and white striped duvet cover (queen)

I found a blue and white striped duvet cover this morning around 9:15am in the parking lot behind the Mall at Steamtown on West Market Street, Scranton. It’s a queen-size duvet cover, 100% cotton, with a hidden zipper and navy piping along the edges. There’s a tiny embroidered initial 'J' near the bottom corner and a faint coffee stain near the zipper pull, otherwise in good condition. I’m glad to help reunite it with its owner—if this sounds like yours, I’d love to hear from you so we can get it back to you.

Scranton / Wilkes-Barre about 1 month ago

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Red Nike Dri-FIT basketball shorts, size L

Found a pair of red Nike Dri-FIT basketball shorts this afternoon around 3:15pm in the parking lot behind the Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre. They're size Large, bright red with black side piping and a white drawstring that sticks out. The Nike swoosh sits on the left leg and there's a small white paint speck near the hem from a recent cleanup. They feel well-worn but in good condition, with a slight fray along the inner waistband. If these belong to you, drop me a message here and we’ll arrange a quick pickup so they can get back to their owner.

Scranton / Wilkes-Barre 3 months ago

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Silver-tone necklace with pearl pendant

I found a small silver-tone necklace this afternoon around 2:45pm near Public Square in Wilkes-Barre. It's about an 18-inch chain with a tiny freshwater pearl pendant and a little heart charm engraved with 'M' on the back. The chain has a few surface scratches but the pearl is pristine, and it looks like it's been cared for. It may have sentimental value to whoever lost it, and I’d love to return it to its owner if you claim it.

Scranton / Wilkes-Barre 3 months ago

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Found Seagate 2TB external hard drive with blue sticker

I found a Seagate 2TB external hard drive this afternoon in the parking lot behind The Mall at Steamtown on Lackawanna Ave, Scranton, around 5:15 pm. It's in a black plastic case with a bright blue sticker featuring a wave pattern and a small dent on the lower-right corner. It's clearly a digital storage device, and I didn't open it beyond confirming it's a drive. I know it's someone else's property and I want to help get it back to its owner. If this is your drive, please claim it through the app and we can arrange a safe pickup.

Scranton / Wilkes-Barre 4 months ago