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

Helpful resources for Southern WV

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Southern WV

found A

Found holiday decorations near Beckley Walmart.

I'm Alex Rivera. I found a box of holiday decorations in the parking lot of a Beckley Walmart on Sunday afternoon, near the garden center entrance, around 3:15 p.m. The box had lights tangled with a red velvet stocking and several silver tinsel strands. It looked like someone had emptied their trunk in a hurry, possibly after a family gathering or after a quick rain shower. I placed it on the cart corral and kept watch for a bit, but no one came back. I'd hate for someone to lose their decorations right before the holidays, so I'm sharing it here in case the owner recognizes the items.

Beckley Walmart parking lot, garden center entrance 8 days ago

found P

Blue plush dinosaur toy found near Walmart Beckley

I found a blue plush dinosaur toy yesterday around 3pm behind the Walmart on Eisenhower Drive in Beckley. It's about 12 inches tall, made of soft fleece, with a bright blue body and a green belly, and a small stitched smile that looks well-loved. There's a tiny yellow star sticker on its right foot and a faint pull-string tag that reads 'Dino Buddies.' The edges are a little worn and the fabric shows gentle pilling from lots of kids' hugs. I figured it must belong to a kid who's missing it, maybe a gift that meant a lot. If someone recognizes it, please get in touch so I can return it to its owner.

Southern WV 5 months ago

found P

Found natural Yamaha acoustic guitar near Tamarack, Beckley

I found a natural finish Yamaha acoustic guitar this afternoon around 3:15pm behind Tamarack in Beckley, WV. It's a full-size dreadnought with a spruce top and rosewood back, the finish shows a few tiny scratches along the lower bout, and there's a dark pickguard. Inside the soundhole there's a small sticker from a local music camp, and a green woven strap with a yellow sun pattern is tucked under the strings. There's also a small dent on the headstock and a chipped edge near the lower bout. If this is yours, message me with the model and the camp sticker details to verify; I’d love to help get it back to a rightful owner.

Southern WV 5 months ago

found P

Red memory-foam neck pillow found near Capitol Street

I found a red memory-foam travel neck pillow this afternoon around 3pm behind the Charleston Town Center Mall on Capitol Street. It’s a well-worn but clean pillow, with blue stitching along the seams and a removable cover that zips off. There’s a small coffee stain on the outer fabric and a discreet 'Cabeau' logo on the inner tag. It seems like someone used it on a recent trip and it may hold sentimental value. If this is yours, drop me a message here and we can work out a pickup.

Southern WV 5 months ago

found P

Framed autumn watercolor, 8x10 inches

I found a small framed watercolor this afternoon around 3:15 pm behind the Tamarack Marketplace in Beckley, near the sculpture garden at the main entrance. It's an 8x10 inch piece in a black wood frame with a glass front, and the painting shows a misty autumn ridge with orange and olive trees. On the back there's a blue sticker with 'Autumn Ridge - M. Hale' and a faint coffee ring on the white mat. The frame has a couple of light scuffs along the bottom edge, but the painting itself looks fine. I picked it up because I figured someone might be worried and I want to help reunite it with its owner; if this sounds like yours, describe a distinguishing feature and we can arrange pickup in Beckley.

Southern WV 5 months ago

found P

Navy North Face backpack with dragon sticker

I found a navy blue North Face backpack this afternoon around 3:15pm behind the Exxon on Mercer Street in Princeton, Southern WV. It's in decent shape, with a few scuffs on the bottom and a slightly worn zipper pull. There’s a small dragon sticker on the inner pocket and a bright yellow carabiner clipped to the main zipper. Inside I saw a tattered notebook and a pair of headphones tucked in the side pouch. I figured someone might be missing it soon, so I’m hoping to help reunite it with its owner.

Southern WV 6 months ago