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

Helpful resources for Austin

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Austin

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Found wrist watches near Zilker Park, Austin

I’m Jordan Lee, and I found a couple of wrist watches near the Zilker Park entrance after sunset this evening. At around 7:55 p.m., as I was walking from the Barton Springs Pool toward the lawn, I spotted two watches lying on the grass near a picnic table. One has a black leather band with a silver face, the other a blue strap with a digital display, and both looked recently dropped. I’m posting them here in case the owners recognize them by brand or details.

Near Zilker Park entrance, Barton Springs Pool, Austin 1 day ago

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Found gym bags near Zilker Park, Austin

I was leaving the Barton Springs Pool entrance along Zilker Park around 6:20 PM this past Tuesday when I spotted two gym bags sitting on a bench by the bike rack. The bags were black with a bright blue zipper and stuffed full with a towel, a water bottle, and a spare pair of sneakers with neon laces. The sight of them made me think someone out there was probably rushing to finish a workout and realized their gear was gone. I picked them up and left them at the park’s central desk, hoping the owner would recognize the description and claim them soon in Austin.

Near Barton Springs Pool entrance, Zilker Park. 16 days ago

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found remote controls near Capitol, Austin

I was biking down Congress Avenue around 3:20 p.m. yesterday and found a pile of remote controls on the sidewalk near the Texas State Capitol's steps. They look like a mismatched lot: a large universal remote with smudged buttons, a smaller remote with a dented corner, and a slim one with a decorative sticker. I picked them up and kept them with me, hoping the owner will recognize them. I’m glad to help and hope they’re reunited soon.

Texas State Capitol steps on Congress Ave about 1 month ago

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Found: Student ID

I found a student ID lying face up near the UT bookstore entrance on The Drag around 4:15 PM today. The card bears the University of Texas at Austin logo and a student photo. It looked like it had been dropped during finals week chaos, and I know how stressful that is. I tucked it into my jacket pocket for safekeeping and decided to post here so it can find its rightful owner and get back to class.

Sentimental

outside UT Bookstore on The Drag about 1 month ago

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Found handheld and console near Continental Club, SoCo Austin

This afternoon around 3:45 PM, I found a handheld game console and its controller on the sidewalk outside the Continental Club on South Congress Ave. It looked recently used, with a few scuffs but the screen intact. I can imagine the owner is probably relieved to have a lead and that this post might help reunite them with their device. If this sounds like yours, I hope you see it.

Continental Club, South Congress Ave about 2 months ago

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Found travel visas in downtown Austin

I found travel visas on Saturday around 2:05 PM along the Congress Ave Bridge near 6th Street during a small neighborhood festival. They were tucked in a flimsy folder with a red cover and a passport photo peeking out. I kept them in my jacket pocket for safety while I looked for the owner, then posted this listing because I know how important those documents are. If this matches what you’re missing, please reach out through the site so the owner can be reunited with them.

near the Texas State Capitol 2 months ago