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

Helpful resources for Athens

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Athens

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Found dog leashes near Alden Library.

I was heading back to my dorm after a late class when I spotted a pair of dog leashes lying on the path behind Alden Library on West Green. It was around 6:40 p.m. on Saturday, and a mist hung in the trees and the campus cafe smelled of espresso. One leash was bright blue with a tiny paw print; the other was red and a little frayed from weather. I could almost hear the dog waiting at home, and my heart twinged with worry for its owner too. I picked them up and brought them to the campus lost-and-found desk, hoping the owner would see this soon.

Alden Library steps, West Green, OU campus 6 days ago

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Found sheet music near Court Street, Athens

I was strolling along Court Street around 6:10 p.m. this afternoon when I spotted a folder of sheet music lying on a bench by the Athens Community Center. The pages are well-used, with pencil markings and a note about a rehearsal for the university orchestra. I picked it up and looked around; no one seemed to be searching for it, so I brought it here. I can imagine someone was counting on those pieces, and I hope the owner sees this and claims them soon.

by Court Street, Uptown Athens 19 days ago

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Found CDs in downtown Athens.

I was tidying out my car in the lot behind the Athens County Courthouse on Court Street this afternoon around 4:15 p.m. when I spotted a messy bundle of CDs half-hidden under a tote bag. The cases range from 90s rock to indie staples, many with handwritten labels and a few sleeves coming loose. They look like they belong to someone who loves digging through crates for hidden gems, and I felt a little guilty accidentally uncovering them instead of the owner. I kept them safe in my trunk and hope the rightful owner sees this and can claim them—the music clearly means a lot to whoever owned them.

Court Street, near the Athens County Courthouse about 2 months ago

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FOUND Holiday Decorations in Athens, OH

I was walking home from the Ohio University campus along Court Street when I spotted a tote of holiday decorations sitting behind a bench near College Green around 9:12 PM on a Sunday. The garlands were tangled with a string of red lights and a few ornaments poked out of a ripped bag. I figured someone from OU might be missing their seasonal stuff, so I kept them safe and posted here so the owner can claim them. If these decorations belong to you, this listing is your best route to reconnect.

Court Street by College Green, Athens about 2 months ago

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Gray USB-C hub with neon A5 sticker found

Found a gray USB-C hub this afternoon around 3:15pm near Monastiraki Square in Athens. It's a seven-port electronics accessory with a slightly scuffed aluminum body and a neon green sticker that reads A5 on the top. It was lying on the pavement by the Ermou Street pedestrian zone, tucked beside a backpack but otherwise undamaged. No cables attached, just the hub itself, and it looks lightly used but functional. If this belongs to you, reach out and we can arrange a meetup near Monastiraki or Syntagma to get it back; I’m happy to return it to its owner.

Athens about 2 months ago

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Teak coffee table with glass top found

Found a teak coffee table with a glass top this afternoon around 2:15pm, leaning against the wall outside a small café on Dionysiou Areopagitou Street, just a short stroll from the Acropolis Museum in Athens. The table is about 120 cm long, 60 cm wide, with a warm honey-brown finish and a slim black metal brace beneath the glass. It has a few light scratches along the edge and a small circular dent on the top left corner. On the underside of the shelf, there’s a faded label with the name Elena written in black Sharpie and a partially smudged phone number. If this belongs to you, I’d really like to help get it back—tell me something specific about the label or its exact dimensions so we can meet up nearby and return it.

Athens 2 months ago