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

Helpful resources for South Florida

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in South Florida

found A

Found pins on the South Beach boardwalk.

I was strolling along the South Beach boardwalk near Ocean Drive around 11:20 a.m. today when I spotted a small cluster of pins lying in the sand. There are four pins in total: a shiny dolphin, a bright enamel 'Miami' pin, a tiny palm-tree pin, and a silver pin with a sun motif. They're not mine, and they looked well-loved, like someone uses them for jackets or bags. I took care of them and posted here, hoping the owner sees this and can reclaim them through the site.

near Ocean Drive promenade, South Beach 23 days ago

found P

Bearded dragon found in South Florida parking lot

Found a bearded dragon this afternoon around 3:15 PM in the parking lot behind the Publix at US-1 and SW 57th Ave in Coconut Grove, South Florida. It’s about 12 inches from snout to tail, olive-green with a bright orange beard and a couple of dark bands along the back. There’s a small crescent-shaped scar on the tail tip, and its scales look glossy but a little dusty from wandering. It seemed calm, not distressed, and it followed my pace a bit before settling on the curb. If anyone recognizes this reptile or has a clue who might own it, drop me a message here and I’ll help reunite it with its owner.

South Florida 2 months ago

found P

Navy North Face jacket with orange lining

I found a navy North Face jacket this afternoon around 4pm behind the Starbucks on Lincoln Road in Miami Beach, South Florida. It's a men's size M and in good condition, with a bright orange lining that shows when you unzip. A couple of unique details might help: a small white scuff on the left cuff and a compass patch embroidered on the chest. Inside there's a zipped inner pocket with a faded receipt from last month. I know losing a jacket like this can be stressful, so I'm hoping to get it back to its owner—if this sounds like yours, drop me a line at [email protected] and we can arrange a meetup near the Starbucks.

South Florida 4 months ago

found P

Found hand-painted ceramic wall plaque of tropical bird

Found this morning around 9:45 near the front steps of PAMM on Biscayne Boulevard in Miami. It's a hand-painted ceramic wall plaque featuring a tropical parrot, turquoise background with gold trim and coral accents. The piece sits about 12 inches tall and 8 inches wide; the glaze is bright and glossy, with one small chip on the bottom left corner and a hairline crack along the parrot's wing. On the back there's an engraved initials 'A.R.' and a faint 'Made in Florida' stamp. I’m sure it belongs to someone who loves it—hope to reunite you with it. If it sounds like yours, DM me with the initials on the back and where you last had it.

South Florida 4 months ago

found A

Black Anker PowerCore 10000 charger with red initials

I found a black Anker PowerCore 10000 portable charger this morning around 11:15 am on the sidewalk outside Bayside Marketplace at 401 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, South Florida. It has a short micro-USB charging cable attached, and there’s a small dent on the bottom-right corner plus a red sticker with the initials 'KB' on the back. It looks like it was used recently and still shows about 60% charge. If this belongs to you, message me here and we can meet up near the Bayside entrance to get it back to you.

South Florida 6 months ago

found P

Framed abstract painting with blue-gold swirls

I found a framed abstract painting this morning around 10:15am on Lincoln Road near the Washington Ave intersection in Miami Beach. It's a 22x28 inch piece in a matte black wooden frame, with bold swirls of cobalt blue, teal, and metallic gold on a white field. There’s a small scratch along the bottom edge and a faint artist signature on the back that reads 'L. Rivera 2022'. It looks like a professional gallery piece, and I figured someone might be missing it after a stroll along the beachside sidewalk. If this sounds like yours, we can arrange a pickup near Lincoln Road.

South Florida 6 months ago