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

Helpful resources for Wilmington

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Wilmington

found P

Found car keys in Wilmington, NC

Found keys in Wilmington NC. Toyota car and scull key on it.

Wilmington 8 days ago

found P

Blue hardcover mystery novel with red ribbon bookmark

I found a blue hardcover mystery novel this afternoon around 3:15 pm on a bench along the Riverwalk near the Bellamy Mansion on Market Street in Wilmington. The cobalt blue cover features a silver fox, and a bright red ribbon bookmark peeks out from between the pages. Inside the front cover there's a small sticker with the initials 'C.T.' and a faded library receipt tucked between pages near 112. The spine is creased and a few corners are worn, but the book is otherwise in good shape. It seems clearly loved—if you're missing it, send me a message here and we can work out a pickup near Front Street or the Riverwalk.

Wilmington about 1 month ago

found A

Tan leather briefcase with red laptop sleeve, found downtown

I found a tan leather Samsonite briefcase this afternoon around 3:15 pm outside the Coffee Cup cafe on Front Street by the Riverwalk in downtown Wilmington. It's a bit scuffed at the corners and the leather on the handle shows some wear, but the zippers work smoothly. Inside there's a bright red laptop sleeve and a few papers with a 'Quarterly Report' heading; there's also a small brass tag on the outer pocket engraved with 'JL'. If this belongs to you, message me here on the app and we can arrange a pickup near the Riverwalk.

Wilmington 2 months ago

found P

Keys on blue lanyard found near Riverwalk, Wilmington

Found a set of keys this morning around 9am on the Riverwalk behind the Cotton Exchange on Front Street, Wilmington. They're on a fraying blue nylon lanyard with a small silver bike-chain charm and a red plastic-coated house key; there's a blue silicone cover on one key and a tiny black flashlight keychain. A metal tag etched with the initials 'ML' offers another clue, and there's a Honda car key among them. They looked recently dropped and a bit muddy from last night's rain. If these belong to you, I’d really like to see them go back to their owner—I'm around the Riverfront area today and can meet near Thalian Hall or drop them at the police desk if needed.

Wilmington 3 months ago

found P

Gray Trtl neck pillow with red trim found

I found a gray Trtl travel neck pillow this afternoon around 2:45pm behind the Wilmington Transit Center on Front Street. It's in good shape and fairly compact, with a soft fleece cover and a red elastic strap that keeps it snug when you fluff it. There's a small black Trtl tag on the side, and it's a bit wrinkled from being stuffed in a tote. I figured someone around here might be missing it after a trip—these travel items matter, and I'd love to help you get it back.

Wilmington 3 months ago

found L

Ventolin inhaler with blue cap found near Market Street

I found a white Ventolin inhaler with a blue cap this afternoon around 2:30pm outside the CVS on Market Street near Thalian Hall in Wilmington. It looks gently used, with a small scuff on the cap and a tiny pink heart sticker on the spacer. There's a handwritten label on the back that says Emma, which might help the owner identify it. I know how important this is for someone who depends on their inhaler, and I’d love to get it back to the right person.

Wilmington 4 months ago