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

Helpful resources for Southeast Alaska

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Southeast Alaska

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Found: Hoops near Juneau waterfront

Found a pair of hoop earrings on the sidewalk by the Juneau downtown waterfront, near the cruise ship dock, around 3:50 p.m. yesterday. The hoops are medium-sized, one silver, the other slightly tarnished gold, with simple wires and a tiny charm on the silver one. They sat there for a moment, catching the breeze from the harbor before I picked them up and tucked them into a small pouch I keep in my coat. It’s rough losing something personal in a place buzzing with travelers and locals alike, and I hope their owner spots them soon.

Juneau downtown waterfront, near the cruise ship dock 3 days ago

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FOUND: Memory cards near Mendenhall Trail, Juneau

I found a small waterproof case tucked under a spruce along the Mendenhall Trail around 7:15 p.m. last Saturday, near the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. Inside were several memory cards, along with a few photos from a summer road trip and a short notebook with a blog draft. I felt a mix of relief and responsibility—these are someone’s memories, after all. I left the case in a dry spot near the trailhead and hope the owner sees this post and can reclaim them through the site.

near Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center 13 days ago

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FOUND Travel Adapters near Juneau waterfront

I’m Emily Carter. I found a small blue zip-case with travel adapters on the Juneau waterfront, near the ferry terminal, at 8:15 PM last Friday. A couple of travelers rushed by as I was turning to head home, and I spotted the pouch sitting on a bench, barely tucked under a poster. I picked it up and tucked it in my jacket, thinking the owner would be grateful to have it back. It’s a simple, practical thing, and I’d be glad to see it go back to its owner; please claim these on the site if they’re yours.

Juneau waterfront, near the ferry terminal about 1 month ago

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Found Pins in Southeast Alaska

While strolling along the Juneau waterfront near the Alaska State Capitol steps this morning around 11:20 am, I spotted a handful of pins lying on the concrete near a bench. I picked them up, thinking the owner might have dropped them during the busy tourist rush. The pins are bright enamel with various shapes—an orca, a totem pole, and a tiny bear—clearly someone’s collection. I don’t know who they belong to, but they seemed meaningful. If the owner sees this, I can arrange a meetup at a convenient spot; I’m glad to help reunite these keepsakes.

Alaska State Capitol steps, Juneau waterfront about 2 months ago

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Patagonia fleece hoodie found near Crescent Harbor

I found a navy blue Patagonia fleece hoodie this afternoon around 2:15 pm outside Crescent Harbor on Lincoln Street in Sitka. It's a men's size M, with white drawstrings and a tiny pine tree embroidery on the left chest. There's a faint coffee stain near the pocket, and the zipper still works fine. I know how important gear like this can be in this chill Southeast Alaska weather, so I wanted to post it here—happy to return it locally in Sitka or arrange a meetup.

Southeast Alaska 3 months ago

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Leopard gecko, small with brown spots

Found a small leopard gecko this afternoon around 3:45 pm outside the Alaska State Library near Totem Square in Sitka, Southeast Alaska. It’s about 2 inches long, yellow-tan with brown irregular spots and a plump tail. It has copper-colored eyes and a tiny notch on the tail tip—easy to spot. I’m not sure how it ended up here, but it looks healthy and well-fed. If this belongs to someone, I’d love to help get it back; I can meet downtown or at the waterfront and can scan for a microchip if needed.

Southeast Alaska 4 months ago