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

Helpful resources for Youngstown

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Youngstown

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Gray Nike hoodie with orange zipper

I found a gray Nike hoodie this afternoon around 3:15pm in the parking lot behind the Covelli Centre on Market Street, downtown Youngstown. It's a men's size M fleece hoodie, soft and comfy, with a white Nike swoosh on the chest and a bright orange zipper pull that stands out in the light. There are a couple of small snags on the left sleeve and a faint coffee stain near the front pocket—nothing serious, but visible if you look closely. Inside the tag someone wrote the initials 'J.S.' with a black marker, which might help the owner identify it. If it's yours, DM me with the size and those identifying features.

Youngstown 25 days ago

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Found black Samsung tablet with orange case in Youngstown

Found a black Samsung tablet with an orange rugged case this afternoon around 2:45 pm in the parking lot behind the Youngstown Public Library on Wick Avenue. The device powers on and shows a home screen with a couple of personal photos, and there are light scratches across the screen from a tumble. On the back there’s a small sticker with the initials 'SK' and a faint fingerprint smudge near the corner. I figured it was probably dropped by a student or commuter, so I left it where I found it but I snapped a photo just in case. If this sounds like yours, drop me a DM here with something distinctive about the device (the orange case, the sticker, or the last app you remember using).

Youngstown about 1 month ago

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Navy knit beanie with leather tag

I found a navy knit beanie this afternoon around 4pm outside the Covelli Centre on Market Street in downtown Youngstown. It's adult-sized, acrylic yarn, with a snug cuff and a tiny snag near the edge. The unique bits are a small tan leather patch stitched on the cuff that reads 'Mason Co.' and a faint white paint speck along the hem. The beanie looks to be in good condition overall, just worn-in from use. If it's yours, share the brand on the tag and roughly where I found it so we can get it back to you.

Youngstown about 1 month ago

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Brown Fossil wallet with red interior, found near Wick Ave

I found a brown Fossil wallet this afternoon around 3:15pm outside the downtown Public Library on Wick Avenue, by the bike racks. It’s a slim bifold with a bright red interior lining, a small scratch along the top edge, and the Fossil logo barely visible on the front. Inside, there are several cards and a driver’s license with a name I won’t print here, plus a crumpled receipt from a local coffee shop. Looks recently used but still in good condition overall. If this belongs to you, I’d be glad to help you reclaim it.

Youngstown 2 months ago

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Found Sony ZV-1 camera with checkered strap

I found a black Sony ZV-1 compact camera this afternoon around 3:15 pm. It was sitting on a bench outside the Covelli Centre on Front Street, downtown Youngstown. The camera is in good condition but has a small scratch on the LCD and comes with a gray neoprene case. Notably, it has a blue-and-white checkered camera strap and a bright neon-yellow sticker on the bottom plate that reads 'YSU24'—super easy to spot if you owned it. There's a memory card inside the case; I left it as I found it so you can verify it when you claim it. If this is yours, tell me the strap pattern and the sticker text to confirm.

Youngstown 3 months ago

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Black JBL Charge 5 speaker with orange clip

I found a black JBL Charge 5 portable Bluetooth speaker this afternoon around 3pm in the parking lot behind the Youngstown Public Library on Wick Avenue. It’s about the size of a soda can, with a bright orange silicone clip attached to the side and a few light scratches on the fabric grille. The bottom has a small white sticker with the model printed on it, and there’s a tiny dent along the top edge from a likely tumble outside. It powers on and connected to my phone when I tested it, so it seems in decent working order. If this is yours, I’ve left it near the library entrance behind the bike racks—hope to return it soon.

Youngstown 3 months ago