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

Helpful resources for Washington DC

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Washington DC

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Found pendants near Dupont Circle, DC

I’m Priya Shah. While walking through Dupont Circle on a sunny Sunday around 1:45 PM, I spotted a small velvet pouch on a bench near the Dupont Circle fountain. Inside were several pendants—one with an initial 'M' in cursive, another a tiny compass, and a leaf-shaped charm on a delicate chain. They looked recently worn, not like costume jewelry. I picked them up and kept them safe, hoping to reconnect them with whoever owns them. I hope whoever misplaced these finds them here so the owner can be reunited with their keepsakes.

near Dupont Circle fountain 8 days ago

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Found Bus Tickets in DC

I found these bus tickets today around 9:20 a.m. on the sidewalk outside Union Station’s main entrance, along 2nd Street NW. They’re a little crumpled and stained from someone’s coffee, with a route and a couple of scribbled notes that tell a small, hopeful story. I paused, considered handing them to lost-and-found, but figured someone else might be looking for them more than I might be. If these belong to you, please reach out through the site.

outside Union Station, near the Main Entrance about 1 month ago

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Brown oversized scrunchie found on street corner

Brown oversized scrunchie found on the street corner of P St and 18th St 7/21/26.

Washington DC about 1 month ago

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Found desk organizers near Union Station.

I was sipping coffee near the Union Station main hall around 3:15 pm last Friday when I found a set of desk organizers tucked behind a bench. They’re a mix of black metal and clear plastic, with a handful of sticky notes still clinging to one side. It looked like someone was rushing to their train and left them behind, and I could feel how much they might help someone keep a chaotic desk in order. I’m posting this here to help reunite them with their rightful owner.

Union Station main concourse, Washington, DC 3 months ago

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Found GoPro HERO11 Black action camera

I found a GoPro HERO11 Black action camera this afternoon around 3:00 PM outside the Dupont Circle Metro entrance on Massachusetts Ave NW. It's in a gray protective case with a red GoPro sticker on the lid and a blue silicone sleeve around the body. The bottom corner has a small dent, and there's a yellow tape with the initials 'MK' stuck on the side. The touchscreen boots up and shows some vacation clips, so I figured someone might have dropped it during a stroll around the circle. I'm hoping to get it back to its owner; if it's yours, check for these features and drop me a note with the identifying details.

Washington DC 4 months ago

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DeWalt 20V drill kit found near Union Station

I found a DeWalt 20V MAX XR cordless drill kit this afternoon around 3:15 PM in the Union Station Parking Garage on Massachusetts Ave NE, near the Amtrak entrance. It's tucked inside a yellow-and-black hard case with a slightly dented battery pack and a small blue sticker on the lid with the initials 'JK'. Inside there are two batteries and a compact bit set. I grabbed it thinking someone might be missing it, so I'm keeping it safe and hoping to reunite it with its owner soon; the case shows signs of light wear but the tools work fine. If you recognize it, holler back here or email [email protected] and we'll arrange a handoff.

Washington DC 4 months ago