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

Helpful resources for Stillwater

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Stillwater

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Found: Hamsters in Stillwater

FOUND: I was heading past the OSU Student Union around 5:45 p.m. today when two hamsters wearing little patches of brown and gray were huddled in a blue crate tucked behind a bench near the bookstore. They squeaked as I approached, and I could see one small hamster with a white patch on its chest and the other with a tiny black stripe along its back. They seemed frightened and thirsty, so I grabbed the crate and brought it to a safe spot in my car to keep them warm. I’m posting this here hoping their family is on the other end of this post.

Near the OSU Student Union, campus area. 10 days ago

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Found leashes near OSU campus

I found two dog leashes outside the Edmon Low Library on the Oklahoma State University campus in Stillwater around 5:20 p.m. this Saturday. One leash is blue nylon, the other red reflective—both in good shape but obviously left behind by someone in a hurry after walking a pup. I picked them up and dropped them here, hoping the owner will see this and claim them soon. It’s never fun to misplace gear like this, especially when a dog is waiting at home.

Reward

Outside the Edmon Low Library, OSU Stillwater campus 11 days ago

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Found: Avians near Stillwater Library.

At 4:30 p.m. last Thursday, I found a small group of Avians near the Stillwater Public Library on West 7th Avenue. They perched on a low railing, bright feathers flashing in the early evening light. One had a blue wing band; another chirped loudly, clearly hungry. They seemed well cared for and not distressed, which makes me think someone is missing them and is anxious to have them back. I left them accessible near the library entrance where anyone passing by could hear them, and I’ll let the site handle the rest. If this sounds like your birds, please contact through the site.

Near Stillwater Public Library, West 7th Ave, Stillwater, OK 11 days ago

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Found: Paintings in Stillwater

On Saturday around 3:15 PM, I found a stack of paintings tucked behind a planter near the OSU bookstore on University Avenue, in the Campus Corner area. There are five canvases, with landscapes and abstracts in bright colors, all in wooden frames. A few frames have minor scratches, and one corner shows a tiny initials mark. I left them in a safe spot by the steps of the bookstore, hoping the owner would recognize them. They look valuable and well cared for, and seeing them again would mean a lot to the artist behind them. If they belong to you, this listing could help reunite you with them.

Campus Corner, by the OSU bookstore about 1 month ago

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Found Acuvue Oasys contact lens near library

I found a single Acuvue Oasys contact lens yesterday around 3pm outside the Stillwater Public Library on Main Street. It's a clear, soft lens with a small blue edge marker that helps me tell it apart from my other lenses. I picked it up near the stone bench by the entrance after noticing it lying on the sidewalk. If you're missing a lens, I’d love to help get it back to you—meet near the library desk or I can drop it off there. Category: Lost Contact.

Stillwater 3 months ago

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Keys with panda keycap on red carabiner

Found a set of keys this afternoon around 2:15 pm in the parking lot behind the Stillwater Public Library on Main Street. There are two metal house keys, a Toyota key fob with a cracked plastic housing, and a bright red carabiner clip attached to a blue silicone key ring. One key has a tiny panda-shaped rubber cap, and there’s a small blue tag stamped with 'LM' on another key. They look lightly used but functional. If someone recognizes these, I’d be happy to return them to their owner.

Stillwater 3 months ago