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

Helpful resources for Western Kentucky

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Western Kentucky

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Gray knit beanie with red pom-pom found downtown

I found a gray knit beanie this afternoon around 3:15pm on the bench outside the Capitol Arts Center near Fountain Square in downtown Bowling Green, Western Kentucky. It’s a medium-gray ribbed-knit beanie with a bright red pom-pom and a small black fabric tag on the cuff that reads 'FW'. The beanie is in good condition, just a touch of pilling from wear. If the owner sees this, I’d love to help get it back to them—I know how important a warm item can be this season.

Western Kentucky about 2 months ago

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Keys on red silicone cover near Corvette Museum

Found a set of keys this afternoon around 2:15pm in the parking lot behind the Corvette Museum on Corvette Boulevard in Bowling Green, KY. The keys sit on a silver keyring, with one key wearing a bright red silicone sleeve and a small brass compass charm clipped to the ring. The car fob is black and has a tiny crack along the top edge; there’s also a faded blue sticker tucked under the ring. If these look like yours, describe the compass charm and the red sleeve to confirm ownership and I'll arrange a safe handoff nearby.

Western Kentucky about 2 months ago

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Found black Michael Kors handbag in Bowling Green

I found a black Michael Kors handbag this afternoon around 2:45pm in downtown Bowling Green, near the public library on Center Street. It's a medium-sized pebbled leather bag with a tan lining, a zipper pocket, and a small silver elephant charm on the zipper pull. Inside I spotted a few receipts and a lipstick case, plus a tiny monogram tag that reads 'A.J.' on the inner pocket. The bag is in good condition with a minor scuff on the bottom corner. I’d really like to get it back to its owner, so if this sounds like yours, we can arrange a meet-up near Scottsville Road to verify details.

Western Kentucky about 2 months ago

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Black Ray-Ban glasses with blue temple tips

I found a pair of black rectangular Ray-Ban glasses this afternoon around 2:15 pm behind the Greenwood Mall entrance on Scottsville Road in Bowling Green, Western Kentucky. They’re in decent shape, with a couple of minor scuffs on the nose pads and a tiny scratch on the left lens. The frames are black plastic with a subtle blue accent on the temple tips. On the inside of the left temple there’s a small engraving 'AF-21' that could help identify the owner. I hope to reunite these with their person; they look like daily wear and probably have sentimental value. If you think these might be yours, tell me roughly where you last wore them, what prescription they might have, and a description of the engraving, and we can figure out a pickup near the mall entrance.

Western Kentucky 3 months ago

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Black leather bifold wallet found near Greenwood Mall

I found a black leather bifold wallet this afternoon around 3:15pm in the parking lot behind Greenwood Mall on Scottsville Road in Bowling Green, Western Kentucky. It's a mid-sized wallet with slightly worn corners and a tan interior, plus a small embossed fox logo on the lower right corner. Inside there are a few loyalty cards, a folded driver's license bearing the name Alex Turner, and a tiny photo of a dog in the bill compartment, along with a silver keychain that has a NASCAR badge. If this sounds like yours, I'd be glad to set up a pickup at the mall security desk; I'd really like to get it back to its owner.

Western Kentucky 4 months ago

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Found silver MacBook Air near Capitol Arts Center

I found a silver MacBook Air this afternoon around 3:45 pm on Center Street, right outside the Capitol Arts Center in downtown Bowling Green, Western Kentucky. It's in a black protective case with a blue sticker of a cat on the lid and the initials 'KR' etched on the bottom. I powered it up and saw personal photos and a few school folders, so I figured it must belong to someone who really needs it back. If it's yours, reply with a distinguishing detail like the charger color or the last file you opened and we can arrange a safe meet-up in Bowling Green.

Western Kentucky 4 months ago