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

Helpful resources for Colorado Springs

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Colorado Springs

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Found ring near Bear Creek Park playground

Found ring near Bear Creek Park playground. Please provide details to prove ownership!

Colorado Springs 29 days ago

found P

Brass pocket compass in leather sleeve

Found a small brass pocket compass with a dark brown leather sleeve this afternoon around 4:15 pm in the Garden of the Gods Visitor Center parking lot on Gateway Road, Colorado Springs. It's about 2 inches across, with a bit of tarnish and a couple of tiny nicks along the rim. The leather sleeve is worn but still secure, and there's a back engraving of the initials 'P.K.' plus a tiny heart-shaped scratch on the front that's pretty distinctive. The compass still ticks when you move it, like it was recently used. If this belongs to someone, I’d be happy to arrange a safe pickup here in Colorado Springs.

Colorado Springs about 1 month ago

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Found gray hamster with blue collar

I found a tiny gray hamster with a blue collar wandering under a parked cart near the Target on Academy Boulevard in Colorado Springs this afternoon around 3:15. The little guy is grape-sized, with soft gray fur and a white belly, plus a blue collar with a tiny silver bell and a crescent-shaped white patch behind his left ear. He seemed a bit skittish at first, but settled in a spare hamster cage I keep for pet-sitting, nibbling a cucumber slice I offered. If this is your hamster, please reply here so we can arrange a safe meetup near Garden of the Gods Visitor Center or another convenient spot in Colorado Springs.

Colorado Springs about 1 month ago

found A

Nike men's black swim shorts with white trim

I found a pair of Nike men's swim shorts this afternoon around 3:15pm in the parking lot behind the Downtown YMCA on Platte Avenue in Colorado Springs. They're black with a crisp white side stripe, size M, and the drawstring is bright blue. The left leg has a small bleach spot and a tiny orange carabiner clipped to the belt loop from whoever left them. I figured someone must be missing them after a swim workout or a meetup at the pool across the street, so I’m posting here in case the owner sees it soon and can claim them.

Colorado Springs about 2 months ago

found A

Red dog harness with reflective stripe and paw tag

Found a red nylon dog harness this afternoon around 3:15pm in the parking lot behind the Whole Foods Market on Garden of the Gods Road, Colorado Springs. It's a medium size, bright red with reflective stitching along the chest strap and a sturdy black plastic buckle. The leash ring shows a bit of wear and there’s a small paw-print charm sewn onto the strap near the D-ring. There isn’t any name tag or contact info visible. It looks well-loved and clean overall. If this belongs to your pup, send a note with your dog's name and where you last used it and I’ll get it back to you.

Colorado Springs 2 months ago

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Hardcover travel guide found near Star Coffee, Colorado Springs

I found a well-worn hardcover Iceland travel guide this afternoon around 3:15pm, tucked on the sidewalk in front of Star Coffee on Colorado Ave, downtown Colorado Springs. It's a standard 6x9 inch hardcover, about 1.2 inches thick, with a dusty blue cover and a yellowed dust jacket. The spine is cracked and there's a bright blue ribbon bookmark sticking out at page 127. On the inside front cover there's a small circular sticker with the initials 'AL' and a faint coffee ring on the back. It clearly belongs to someone who uses it a lot, and I figured the owner would want it back sooner rather than later.

Colorado Springs 2 months ago