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

Helpful resources for South Bend / Michigan

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in South Bend / Michigan

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Found microwave near Eddy Street Commons

Last night, around 8:30 p.m., I was leaving Notre Dame's campus area and heading toward Eddy Street Commons in South Bend / Michigan, Indiana, United States, when I spotted a microwave sitting on a bench near the bus stop. It looked unused and a little dusty, like it had been waiting for someone to claim it. I picked it up and brought it to the lost-and-found area, hoping the owner would see this post. It’s not valuable, but it’s useful for late-night meals after long study sessions.

Eddy Street Commons, near Notre Dame campus 4 days ago

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Found DVDs in South Bend area

I found these DVDs while wandering along the St. Joseph Riverwalk near Century Center in South Bend around 3:15 PM on Tuesday. I picked them up thinking someone might have dropped them, and the cases show a mix of sci-fi and family films, with a few still sealed. I hope the rightful owner sees this post and claims what's theirs—these discs looked like someone’s movie nights waiting to happen.

near Century Center, along the St. Joseph Riverwalk 17 days ago

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Found: Wireless earbuds with red charging case

I found a pair of wireless earbuds this afternoon around 2:30pm in the parking lot behind the Century Center on West Michigan Street, South Bend, IN. Category: Miscellaneous Electronics. They’re black with red accents, in a red charging case; the lid has a tiny dent and one earbud has a small scratch near the sensor. I found a RunTech brand label on the case and there are 3 silicone tips included (size M), with the last charge showing about 85%. I know these are important for someone’s daily routine, and I’d love to return them to their owner.

South Bend / Michigan about 1 month ago

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Notre Dame student ID card on blue lanyard

I found a Notre Dame student ID card this afternoon around 1:45pm in the parking lot behind the South Bend Public Library on Main Street. The front shows a student portrait and a blue nylon lanyard with white ND logos. There is a small coffee stain near the bottom-right corner and a tiny dent along the left edge, which helps identify it. The back lists an emergency contact and has a magnetic stripe. If you recognize these details and are the owner, please reach out - I'd really like to get this back to you.

South Bend / Michigan 2 months ago

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Found Pearl snare drum with panda sticker

I found a Pearl snare drum this afternoon around 3:15 pm, sitting near the parking lot behind Century Center on Michigan Street in South Bend. It's a 14x5.5-inch snare with a natural maple finish, some light scratches along the shell, and the hoops show a touch of rust from humidity. There’s a panda sticker on the shell and the initials 'KR' written in blue Sharpie on the inside rim. It looks in decent playable shape. If it's yours, send me a message here and we can arrange pickup nearby.

South Bend / Michigan 3 months ago

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Red Anker power bank with initials engraved

I found a red Anker power bank yesterday around 6:15 pm near the Century Center on West Michigan Street in South Bend. It’s a compact 20,000 mAh model, with a slightly worn black bumper around the edges and a small dent on the bottom corner. The back has the initials 'EJR' engraved, and a blue USB-C cable sticks out from the top. It looks recently used but still holds a charge, and if you recognize these details, reach out and we can sort it out.

South Bend / Michigan 3 months ago