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

Helpful resources for State College

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in State College

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Found Holiday Decorations near Penn State Creamery on College Ave.

On Friday around 9:15 p.m., I found a box of Holiday Decorations lying on the sidewalk near the Penn State Creamery on College Ave. It looked like someone had dropped them while rushing to a party, all tangled in a strand of lights. They smell faintly of pine and were wrapped in a red ribbon. I figured they were probably important to someone, and I would want to help reunite them with their owner.

Near the Penn State Creamery on College Ave. 14 days ago

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Found sheet music on Penn State campus

I found a folder of sheet music this afternoon around 2:30 p.m. on the Penn State campus, near the HUB-Robeson Center and outside Pattee Library. It was sitting on a bench with pages fluttering in the breeze. The binder includes pieces for piano and violin, clearly used by a student who practices here between classes. I held onto it, hoping to reunite it with its owner when the owner recognizes it.

outside Pattee Library, College Ave. 26 days ago

found A

Gray North Face jacket found near HUB-Robeson Center

I found a gray North Face jacket this afternoon around 4:20 pm outside the HUB-Robeson Center on College Ave in State College. It's a men's size L, in decent shape with a small orange zip pull and a tiny coffee stain near the left cuff. The North Face logo sits bright on the chest and there's a zipped sleeve pocket that's easy to spot. If you lost it, describe the exact gray shade and the orange zipper pull to claim it; I can meet up near the campus hub to return it.

State College about 1 month ago

found L

Pyrex 2-cup measuring cup with red lid

I found a Pyrex 2-cup measuring cup this afternoon around 3:15pm behind the campus bookstore on College Ave, near the HUB-Robeson Center, in State College. It's clear glass with a bright red silicone lid that fits snugly. There's a small chip on the pouring spout and a coffee ring inside. On the bottom there's a blue sticker with the number '12' written in marker—definitely from a cooking class or a shared dorm stash. It's in decent shape otherwise, and I'm hoping to reunite it with its owner.

State College about 1 month ago

found P

Red carry-on suitcase with TSA lock, found near College Ave

Found a red carry-on suitcase with a built-in TSA lock this afternoon around 2:30pm outside the library on College Ave in State College. It’s a mid-sized bag with a glossy red shell, a few travel scratches on the corners, and a white fabric luggage tag labeled with the initials 'JL'. Zippers work smoothly, and inside there are some brochures and a spare shirt, nothing obviously valuable. If this is yours, you can verify by the tag or initials and we can arrange a safe handoff. I’m posting here because it seemed like someone might be worried about it disappearing after traveling through campus today.

State College 2 months ago

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Blue Penn State student ID found near Schlow Library

I found a blue Penn State student ID this afternoon around 5:15pm outside Schlow Centre Region Library on South Allen Street in State College. The card is a standard plastic, laminated ID with the portrait of a student and the PSU blue-and-white color scheme. There's a faint coffee stain on the back and a small green sticker that says 'Campus Tour' near the edge—easy to spot. The name on the card looks like 'Priya Kapoor' and the photo seems recently issued. If you're missing an ID card, I’d like to get it back to you; we can meet near the library or at the campus security desk to verify ownership.

State College 3 months ago