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

Helpful resources for Space Coast

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Space Coast

found R

Found: GPS Devices near Cocoa Beach Pier

I was biking along Ocean Path near the Cocoa Beach Pier at 4:15 PM yesterday when I spotted a small GPS device lying on a bench next to a snack cart. It has a red silicone case and a cracked screen, with a tangled charger tucked in beneath. It clearly looked like it belonged to someone who was here for a beach day, not a rental. I powered it down, tucked it into a bag, and handed it in at the Space Coast Community Lost & Found, hoping the owner will see this listing. The Sunshine State can be windy this time of day, and I’d want someone to get their gear back.

Cocoa Beach Pier area, near the snack shack 2 days ago

found A

Found paintings near Cocoa Beach Public Library, 11:40 a.m.

At 11:40 a.m. on Tuesday, I found two framed paintings leaning against a bench outside the Cocoa Beach Public Library along A1A. I picked them up and brought them to the front desk to see if anyone would claim them. The canvases look well cared for, with a few smudges that suggest they’ve been loved. I’d feel better knowing they’re back with their owner through the Space Coast community.

outside Cocoa Beach Public Library, along A1A 4 days ago

found N

Found toy train on Space Coast, Florida.

I was walking along the Cocoa Beach Pier area in Space Coast around 5:15 PM yesterday when a small wooden train rolled out of the sand near the boardwalk. It’s a little red engine with yellow accents and a chipped coat of paint, clearly a well-loved toy. I looked around the benches and under the boardwalk to see if someone was missing it, but no one appeared. I picked it up and brought it to the lost-and-found, hoping the owner will see this and know it’s safe.

Sentimental

near Cocoa Beach Pier 4 days ago

found G

Found: Passports in Space Coast

I found someone else's passports near the Cocoa Beach Pier around 9:15 a.m. on Tuesday, after a morning walk along the Space Coast. They were lying on the sand just beyond the railing, a little damp from the breeze. It felt urgent and a bit heavy to hold onto someone else’s identity documents, so I kept them safe and posted here in the hope the owner will recognize them and reclaim them through the site. Travel papers are serious business, and I want to help get them back to the rightful owner where they belong.

near the Cocoa Beach Pier 16 days ago

found L

Blue paperback travel guide found near Cocoa Beach Pier

I found a blue paperback travel guide this morning around 9am behind the Cocoa Beach Pier, tucked between a trash can and a bench near the surf shop. It's a worn travel guide, about the size of a large paperback, with a coffee ring on the bottom edge and a small seashell bookmark wedged between pages 62 and 63. There's a faint pencil note on page 112 that reads 'For Sam.' The cover photo shows a sunset over the water, and the pages still smell faintly of sea air—totally Space Coast vibes. If this is your copy, shoot me an email and we can arrange pickup.

Space Coast about 1 month ago

found A

Vintage 1960s G.I. Joe figure with accessories

I found a vintage 1960s G.I. Joe action figure this afternoon around 4:15pm in the parking lot behind the Cocoa Beach Pier on Minuteman Causeway. It’s about 12 inches tall, with a tan plastic body, blue fatigues, and a bright red helmet that has a small white star decal on the side. It comes with a tiny metal backpack and a pistol accessory, though the packaging is long gone. The figure shows wear—a bit of paint chipping at the elbows and knees, a faint salt stain, and some sun fade from years on display. I know someone out there is missing this collectible, and I’d really love to help reunite them with it if it’s theirs.

Space Coast 3 months ago