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 Sioux Falls / SE SD? 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 Sioux Falls / SE SD; 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 Sioux Falls / SE SD with enough detail for the real owner to identify it — while holding back one verifying detail.

Helpful resources for Sioux Falls / SE SD

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Sioux Falls / SE SD

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Found ticket on Marion Rd

Found ticket on Marion rd

Sioux Falls / SE SD 1 day ago

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Found sheet music in Sioux Falls

I was walking through Falls Park this morning around 9:30 AM and found a stack of sheet music left on a bench near the Washington Pavilion. The papers are a mix of blue and white pages, some dog-eared from frequent flipping, with a few pencil markings in the margins. It looked like someone had been practicing and left in a hurry. I felt a little hopeful that I could help someone get it back to their hands. If this sounds like yours, I hope you can recognize the notes, the ink, or a bookmark tucked in a specific page.

near the Washington Pavilion, Falls Park 8 days ago

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Found brooches near Falls Park, Sioux Falls.

Hi, I’m Grace Johnson from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. While strolling along 8th Street toward the Arc of Dreams around 11:45 am today, I spotted a collection of brooches lying in the grass near Falls Park. The sun caught their shimmer and I felt a small rush of empathy for whoever lost them. I picked them up and kept them safe, hoping the owner sees this post and can claim them soon.

Falls Park near 8th St, Sioux Falls 27 days ago

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Found black leather briefcase with blue lining

I found a black leather briefcase this afternoon around 2:15pm near Falls Park's main entrance on 8th Street in Sioux Falls. It's a mid-sized case, about 15 inches wide, with a slightly worn matte finish and a small scuff along the bottom edge. Inside there's a padded laptop sleeve that fits a 14-inch laptop, a blue lining that makes papers easy to spot, and a brass compass charm on the zipper pull. There's a white sticker with the initials 'K.L.' on the interior pocket and a laminated business card tucked in the front pocket. I figured someone might be missing it and would want to claim it.

Sioux Falls / SE SD 2 months ago

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Purple plush unicorn with rainbow mane

Found this purple plush unicorn with a rainbow mane this afternoon around 3:00pm near the Falls Park entrance by the pedestrian bridge on Falls Park Drive in Sioux Falls. It’s about 12 inches tall, super soft, with a shiny silver horn and a pink satin ribbon tied around its neck. There’s a tiny star patch on its right hind leg and a small tag that reads 'Little Dreamers' — I didn’t see any owner info. It looks well-loved but clean, like it might have been a favorite bedtime companion. If this is yours, message me and we’ll figure out a good pickup spot near Falls Park.

Sioux Falls / SE SD 3 months ago

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Black JanSport backpack with orange zipper pulls

I found a backpack this afternoon around 3:15pm behind the Falls Park Visitor Center along Phillips Ave in Sioux Falls. It's a black JanSport backpack, medium size, with bright orange zipper pulls and a visible scuff on the bottom edge. Inside there's a blue notebook with a handwritten mountain doodle and a red heart sticker on the inner flap—these are pretty distinct if you're the owner. If you’re the owner, send me a message here and we can meet near Falls Park to get it back.

Sioux Falls / SE SD 3 months ago