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

Helpful resources for Southeast IA

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Southeast IA

found P

Oak coffee table with maple leaf accent

I found this oak coffee table this afternoon around 2:15pm in the parking lot behind the Hy-Vee on Main Street in Mount Pleasant, Southeast Iowa. It's a solid mid-century style piece, about 48 inches long and 22 inches wide, with a warm oak finish and a maple leaf motif carved into the lower shelf. There are a few light scratches on the surface and a tiny veneer dent along the right edge, but it's otherwise sturdy. One leg has a faint vertical crack in the veneer where the wood settled over time. I know how easy it is to misplace a piece like this, and I'd love to help reunite it with its owner.

Southeast IA about 1 month ago

found P

Found Nintendo Switch OLED in Ottumwa

Found a Nintendo Switch OLED this morning around 9:15am behind the Hy-Vee on Main Street in Ottumwa, near the riverfront parking lot. It's in good condition, white with white Joy-Cons, and the screen is clean with no cracks. On the back there's a small sticker that reads 'Ottumwa Tigers' and a minor dent along the bottom edge of the case. It comes with the original dock, HDMI cable, and a slim black carry case. If it's yours, I'd be glad to help reunite you—happy to meet at Hy-Vee customer service or somewhere convenient.

Southeast IA about 2 months ago

found A

Black Korg clip-on tuner found near The Beanery, Ottumwa

I found a black Korg clip-on guitar tuner this afternoon around 3:40pm in the parking lot behind The Beanery on Main Street in Ottumwa. It's a small rectangular device with a silver clamp, matte black plastic housing, and a red backlit display. There's a tiny scratch on the bottom edge and a faint sticker of a guitar pick on the back. It looks a bit worn but the display still works and the clamp grips the headstock snugly; if this is yours, drop me a note with a couple of identifying details and we can arrange a quick meetup to return it.

Southeast IA 3 months ago

found D

Found motocross helmet with goggles and gloves

Found: HJC MOTOCROSS Helmet with goggles & gloves....

Southeast IA 3 months ago

found P

Silver MacBook Air with blue whale sticker

I found a silver 13-inch MacBook Air this afternoon around 3:15pm near the Riverside Park gazebo, at the corner of Main Street and Jefferson Street in downtown Burlington, Southeast IA. It's in decent shape, with a small dent on the left corner and a white USB-C charger tucked in the case. A blue whale sticker sits on the lid, and there's a subtle engraving on the bottom that reads 'PP'. The screen is bright and the keyboard is clean, and it felt like someone would miss it, so I’m posting here to help reunite it with its owner.

Southeast IA 4 months ago

found P

Neon CamelBak hydration backpack found near Coralville Aquatic Center

I found this neon lime green CamelBak hydration backpack this morning around 8:15am in the parking lot behind the Coralville Community Aquatic Center on 2nd Street. It’s a CamelBak with black shoulder straps and a small tear near the top of the left strap. A blue carabiner is clipped to the zipper of the main pocket, and there’s a reflective stripe on the front. Inside I noticed a blue gym membership card for the local track club. I’m hoping to get it back to its owner—if this sounds like yours, share one distinguishing detail so we can verify it's yours.

Southeast IA 4 months ago