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

Helpful resources for Ames

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Ames

found B

Found brown Coach purse with currency near North Grand Mall

Small brown purse (Brand: Coach). Contains currency. No name or identification included. Found near North Grand Mall 9/10/26.

Ames 1 day ago

found A

found utensils near Campanile, Ames

Today around 4:10 p.m., I found a small set of utensils on a bench near the Campanile on the ISU campus. They were wrapped in a napkin, like someone had grabbed a quick bite between classes and forgotten them. I checked around for a moment but didn’t see anyone looking for them, so I kept them safe on the bench until the area cleared. It felt good to return something that probably belongs to a fellow student or staff member.

near the Campanile, ISU campus, Ames 7 days ago

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Found: Scarves near ISU campus, Ames

On Tuesday around 5:30 PM, I found a scarf draped over a bench along College Creek Park near the Memorial Union on the ISU campus in Ames. It’s a soft cream knit with a thin blue stripe and a small embroidered fox near the hem—clearly someone’s favorite. I picked it up, hoping to reunite it with its owner, and brought it with me to keep it safe while I looked for clues nearby. If this belongs to you, check in and maybe I can help get it back to you.

near ISU Memorial Union, Campustown 3 months ago

found N

Found: Equipment for Various Sports in Ames

I was walking home from the ISU Recreation Center through Campustown in Ames around 7:42 PM on Tuesday when I found a bag of equipment for various sports lying by a bench near Lincoln Way. The bag contained a basketball, tennis rackets, a softball glove, and a few smaller items with a team name written on the tag. I picked it up and kept it safe, hoping the owner would see this listing. If this sounds like yours, please check around the Memorial Union area or the Campustown by the ISU Recreation Center.

by the ISU Memorial Union, Campustown, Ames 3 months ago

found A

found: Pins in Ames near ISU campus

I was walking behind the ISU Memorial Union in Ames around 8:45 a.m. when I found a small bundle of enamel pins. They’re a mix of campus logos and quirky designs, tucked into a clear plastic pouch I spotted on the sidewalk by Campustown. I picked them up hoping they belonged to someone who would recognize them, because they looked like a personal collection rather than stray trinkets. If these pins belong to you, I hope you see this and can reconnect with them soon.

behind the Memorial Union, Campustown 3 months ago

found E

found GPS devices near ISU Memorial Union

Last Thursday, around 7:20 p.m., I found a weathered black GPS device case on the sidewalk near the ISU Memorial Union in Ames, Iowa. Inside the case were two GPS units with tangled cords and a frayed charging cable. The scene felt oddly precise yet ordinary—a reminder that someone’s travel plans, job routes, or hiking trips could hinge on these devices. I picked them up, checked the nearby benches, and kept an eye out for a lost-and-found post at the campus center. I’m posting this in case the owner sees it.

near the ISU Memorial Union, Ames campus 3 months ago