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

Helpful resources for York

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in York

found D

Found two toasters near York Galleria

At about 10:40 am on Saturday, I was walking near the York Galleria when I spotted two toasters tucked behind a bench by the food court entrance. They are clean, appear unused, and there were no cords or bags attached. I checked for a tag but there wasn't anything obvious. It struck me as odd to find two appliances just waiting for someone to claim them, and I would be glad to help them find their way home.

Food court entrance, York Galleria, York 26 days ago

found A

Found concert ticket to York Barbican show

I found a single ticket stub this afternoon around 4:15pm outside the Shambles Market on Shambles Street, York. It’s for a show at the York Barbican Centre—the stub is purple and says Aurora Live, with Row B, Seat 7, Section 210, and a barcode along the bottom. There’s a small coffee stain along the left edge and a tiny blue butterfly sticker on the back. The top corner has handwritten initials 'L. Chen' that might help verify ownership. If this is yours, I’d really like to get it back to you.

York about 1 month ago

found A

Blue plush unicorn with pink mane

I found this blue plush unicorn this morning around 7:45am near the entrance to York Minster on Minster Yard. It's about 12 inches tall, made of soft fleece, with a bright pink mane and a tiny purple star sewn on its left flank. The toy looks well-loved; there’s a small scuff on one hoof and the tip of its horn is a bit flattened, which I figured might help identify it. It clearly belongs to a child and I’d love to see it back with its owner—if this is yours, describe the unicorn’s features (mane color, star patch, hoof scuff) and where you last had it, and we can arrange a meetup near the Shambles.

York 2 months ago

found P

Black North Face backpack with red rain cover

I found a black North Face backpack this afternoon around 4pm behind The Shambles in York. It's a medium-sized bag, a bit worn but solid, with a bright red rain cover tucked into the top pocket and a distinctive blue zipper pull on the main compartment. Inside there is a gray hoodie, a notebook with a fox doodle on the cover, and a coffee-shop receipt that shows the name 'York Café'. There are a few scuffs on the bottom, but otherwise it looks usable; if this is yours, drop me a message so we can arrange a pickup.

York 2 months ago

found A

Found Kindle Paperwhite with blue case near Waterstones, York

I found a Kindle Paperwhite this afternoon around 3:20pm outside Waterstones on Coney Street in York. It sits in a blue fabric case and has a small white compass sticker on the back. The screen is clear, with just a faint scratch along the bottom edge from being tucked in a bag. If this is yours, message me in the app and we can arrange a safe handover.

York 2 months ago

found P

Found cream fabric ottoman with brass nailhead trim

I found a cream fabric ottoman this afternoon around 3:15pm behind the Shambles Market on The Shambles in York. It's a compact 18x18 inch piece with dark wooden legs and brass nailhead trim along the edges. The upholstery is soft cream linen, and there's a small coffee stain on the top right corner plus a tiny dent on one side. It looks like someone’s favorite piece, and I’d love to help reunite it with its owner if you’re missing it. I left it near the market stall center on The Shambles in case someone comes back to claim it.

York 3 months ago