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

Helpful resources for Southwest VA

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Southwest VA

found P

Neon pink dog harness with paw-print pattern

I found this neon pink dog harness this afternoon around 4:15pm behind the Abingdon Farmers Market on Main Street in Southwest VA. It's a medium-sized nylon harness by Blueberry Pet, with a purple paw-print patch on the chest strap and a reflective strip along the neck. The inside lining is black, and the buckle still clicks smoothly; there are a few faint dirt marks from outdoor use but it's generally in good shape. If this looks like your harness, I'm hoping to get it back to its owner soon—please share details like the color scheme, size, and any distinctive tags to verify ownership.

Southwest VA 29 days ago

found L

Found: red metronome near Barter Theatre

I found a small red metronome this afternoon around 4:15pm in the parking lot behind Barter Theatre on Main Street in Abingdon, VA. It's a Seiko desk metronome, about 3 inches tall, with a glossy red plastic case and a black base. The pendulum is white with black markings and the back has a tiny blue sticker with a guitar-pick graphic. It looks barely used and seems to tick smoothly when I shake it. If this belongs to you, reach out and we can figure out a quick return — I’d hate for it to stay with me when it clearly matters to someone, maybe as a gift.

Southwest VA 3 months ago

found A

Gray North Face jacket found near Blacksburg Library

I found a gray North Face puffer jacket this afternoon around 2:15 pm in the parking lot behind the Blacksburg Library on Draper Road, in Blacksburg, Southwest Virginia. It's a size Large, with a bright red fleece lining visible when you unzip the front. The jacket features a small blue enamel mountain pin on the zipper pull and a faint water stain near the hem from this spring drizzle. If this is your jacket, message me here so we can arrange a pickup—it's in decent shape and I'd really like to get it back to its owner.

Southwest VA 3 months ago

found E

Found a pair of black sturdy sunglasses with a faint scratch on the right lens at Riverside Park.

I found a pair of black sunglasses lying on a bench in Riverside Park in Southwest VA. They look like they belong to someone who loves outdoor activities, as they have a sturdy build and a faint scratch on the right lens. If you think they might be yours, please reach out with a description!

Riverside Park, Southwest Virginia, United States 7 months ago

found J

Found black rolling suitcase with multiple stickers and travel tags outside a grocery store in Southwest Virginia.

I found a black rolling suitcase with multiple stickers on it outside the grocery store in Southwest VA. It was just sitting there unattended, and it looks like it might belong to someone who forgot it. The suitcase had a few clothes peeking out and some travel-tags attached. If you think this might be yours, please reach out with some details about it!

Grocery store, Southwest Virginia, USA 8 months ago

found J

Found black wireless earbuds case with a small scratch on the side near a park bench in Southwest Virginia.

I found a black wireless earbuds case while walking in my neighborhood near the park in Southwest VA. It was sitting on a bench, and it looks like it might belong to someone who was there recently. There's a chance the earbuds are still inside, but I didn't want to open it. The case has a small scratch on the side, and I would love to reunite it with its owner.

Neighborhood park bench, Southwest Virginia, USA 8 months ago