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

Helpful resources for Finger Lakes

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Finger Lakes

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found CDs on bench near Ithaca Commons

I was tidying up after a quick stretch break when I found a stack of CDs on a bench outside the Ithaca Commons around 3:45 p.m. on Saturday. They looked like someone had left them behind, and they aren’t mine. The collection includes indie rock and a few older pop CDs, with a faded blue case and a sticker from a local music shop. I’m hoping the owner sees this and claims them through the site; I just picked them up to keep them safe in case someone returns for them.

Bench outside Ithaca Commons 10 days ago

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Found wireless earbuds near Ithaca Commons

I found a pair of wireless earbuds this afternoon around 4pm in front of a cafe on West State Street, near the Ithaca Commons in the Finger Lakes region. They come in a matte black charging case with blue silicone ear tips. The case has a small dent on the corner and there's a white sticker on the lid with the initials 'LR'. They seem lightly used and powered on when I checked briefly, but I couldn't connect to a phone. If these belong to you, I’d be happy to help reunite you with them.

Finger Lakes 20 days ago

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Blue Nike running shoes with neon laces found near Ithaca

Found a pair of blue Nike running shoes, size 9, this afternoon around 3pm in front of the Ithaca Commons near East State Street. They’re a little scuffed on the toes, with neon green laces that pop against the dark blue fabric. The left shoe has a small coffee stain on the tongue, and the insoles smell faintly of new rubber. I picked them up near the benches by the bookstore and figured someone might be worried if their sneakers disappeared during the busier lunch crowd. If you’re missing them, I’ll happily hand them over to the owner—they look well-loved but still usable.

Finger Lakes 29 days ago

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Gray North Face backpack found near Ithaca Commons

Found a gray North Face backpack this afternoon around 3:15pm near the Ithaca Commons on Green Street. It's a medium-sized bag, about 18 inches tall, with a red embroidered patch that says Trail Crew on the front pocket. The bottom has a few scuffs and there's a faded blue water-bottle holder on the side. Inside, I spotted a spiral notebook, a couple of pens, and a USB-C cable; plus a campus map and a sticky note with a name that isn't mine. I know how important a bag like this can be for someone, so I’m hoping to reunite it with the owner.

Finger Lakes 3 months ago

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Black 25-key MIDI keyboard found near Ithaca Farmers Market

I found a black 25-key MIDI keyboard controller this afternoon around 3:15pm outside the Ithaca Farmers Market at Steamboat Landing on Cayuga Street, Ithaca, in the Finger Lakes. It looks like a compact, portable unit, lightweight and with matte black plastic and a bit of wear on the edges. There’s a small white sticker on the back with the initials 'KT' and a tiny dent along the top edge near the corner. It’s easy to carry in a small tote, so I’m guessing someone was practicing or setting up for a quick session and forgot it after shopping. If this is yours, drop me a message here and we can arrange pickup.

Finger Lakes 4 months ago

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White plastic ID badge with photo on lanyard

I found this white plastic ID badge this morning around 9:45am on the sidewalk outside the Geneva Public Library on North Main Street. The card is a standard credit-card size, with a small photo in the top left corner and the name 'Priya Patel' printed in bold beneath it, plus a blue SUNY-style logo. It’s attached to a black lanyard that has a tiny gold owl charm near the clasp, which is a unique detail I noticed. There’s a faint coffee stain along the back and a light scratch across the photo area. If someone recognizes it, please reach out; I’d love to help reunite it with its owner.

Finger Lakes 5 months ago