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

Helpful resources for Western Massachusetts

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Western Massachusetts

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37-key MIDI keyboard in flight case

Found a compact 37-key MIDI keyboard controller this morning around 10:15am, tucked behind a bench near the Northampton Academy of Music on Main Street in Northampton, MA. It’s a black matte controller with a few scuffs along the edges and a slightly glowing blue screen, and I can read 'M-Audio' on the logo if you squint. It sits in a gray aluminum flight case with a dent in the lid and a small sticker that says 'Studio 7' in the lower corner. It looks well loved but still in good condition—if you’re the owner, I’d be happy to help get it back to you.

Western Massachusetts 27 days ago

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Silver ring with blue stone, found in Northampton

I found a silver ring today around 4:20pm while walking along Main Street in Northampton, right outside the Academy of Music. It’s a slim sterling silver band, about 4-5mm wide, with an oval lapis lazuli stone bezel-set. The inside bears a small engraving that reads 'AP-92' and there’s a tiny nick along the outer edge near the setting. Overall it’s in good condition with only minor surface scratches. I know how meaningful a ring can be, so I’d love to get it back to its owner. If this sounds like yours, tell me the engraving detail or the stone, and we can arrange a safe hand-off in downtown Northampton.

Western Massachusetts about 1 month ago

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Blue field guide to local birds

I found a blue paperback field guide to local birds this afternoon around 3:15pm in the parking lot behind the Greenfield Public Library on Main Street in Western Massachusetts. It's a Peterson Field Guide to Birds of New England, about 350 pages, with a creased spine and a coffee stain on the back cover. Inside the front cover there's a pencil doodle of a hummingbird and a small handwritten note that says 'For M. Rivera' with a date from last summer. The book has dog-eared pages near the Warblers section and a faint sticker from Greenfield Public Library on the back. If this is yours, drop me a message here and we can arrange a pickup.

Western Massachusetts 4 months ago

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Found cockatiel: gray with yellow crest

I found a cockatiel this afternoon around 3:15pm near the Forest Park entrance on Belmont Ave in Springfield, MA. It's a gray bird with a bright yellow crest and orange cheek patches, and it has a tiny silver leg band engraved 'MA-304'. The bird seemed calm, perched on the grass near the carousel, and it doesn't appear hurt or scared, just curious. It clearly belongs to someone since it’s well cared for, and I’m hoping to reunite it with its owner. If this sounds like your bird, the band number and that distinctive crest are good identifiers.

Western Massachusetts 5 months ago

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Blue Nike running shoes with pink accents

I found a pair of blue Nike running shoes this afternoon around 2:15pm behind the basketball courts by the gym at Smith College, on Elm Street in Northampton. They’re a men's size 9, blue with a white Nike swoosh and a pink heel tab. The left shoe has a small scuff on the toe and the laces are frayed; the right shoe has a faint mud stain along the sole. They were sitting near a bike rack by the field, easy to spot once you know the area. If you recognize these, I’d love to get them back to their owner.

Western Massachusetts 6 months ago

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White ceramic teapot with blue floral pattern

I found a white ceramic teapot with a blue floral pattern this afternoon around 2:15pm in the back alley behind Smith College's Campus Center on Elm Street in Northampton, Western Massachusetts. The teapot is about the size of a 4-cup pot, with a glossy glaze and a small chip on the rim and a tiny crack near the spout. It has a wooden lid knob and, on the bottom, a pencil-mark initial 'L' that looks like someone’s ID. It feels well-loved, and it smells faintly of tea, like someone made a comforting pot just yesterday. If you know who it belongs to, I’d be happy to hand it back.

Western Massachusetts 6 months ago