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

Helpful resources for Grand Forks

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Grand Forks

found A

Silver Yamaha flute with engraved initials

I found a silver Yamaha flute this afternoon around 3:15pm in the parking lot behind the Ralph Engelstad Arena on 2nd Ave in Grand Forks. It’s a standard student model, silver-plated, with a few scratches along the lip plate and a tiny dent on the foot joint. The case is black with a red velvet interior, and there’s an engraving on the headjoint that reads 'J. Carter'. The instrument seems in playable condition and well cared-for. I know how important a flute can be—especially if it’s a student’s instrument—so I’d really like to reunite it with its owner. If you can describe the engraving or bring proof of ownership, I’ll hand it over.

Grand Forks 28 days ago

found P

Blue glucose meter kit

I found a small digital glucose meter kit this afternoon around 3:15pm, left on a bench outside the UND Bookstore on 2nd Ave in downtown Grand Forks. It's in a light blue plastic case with a white lid and a tiny yellow sun sticker on the lid. Inside there are a few test strips and the meter itself looks gently used but functional. The lid has a faint crack from a drop last week. If this belongs to you, message me here and we can arrange a quick meetup near Gore Plaza to get it back.

Grand Forks about 1 month ago

found A

Anker 20,000mAh power bank with sticker

I found a black Anker 20,000mAh power bank this afternoon around 2:15pm in the Target parking lot on S Washington St, Grand Forks. It’s in pretty good condition—there’s a small dent on the top edge and a bright green sticker with the letters GF on the lid. The LED indicators flash when you plug it in, and there’s a tiny scratch along the side that might help identify it. This power bank is a real lifesaver for campus days, and I’d love to get it back to its owner since these things usually mean a lot to people. If this sounds like yours, I’m happy to coordinate a meet-up near Target or at the Grand Forks Public Library for pickup.

Grand Forks 3 months ago

found P

Sky-blue ceramic mug with sunflower motif

I found a sky-blue ceramic mug this afternoon around 3:15pm behind the Grand Forks Public Library on 4th Ave N. It's a standard mug size, about 3.5 inches tall, with a slightly chipped rim and a hand-painted sunflower along the side. The glaze is a speckled blue and there's a small crack along the handle, plus initials 'KB' etched on the bottom. If anyone recognizes it, I'd love to help reunite it with its owner—it's a mug that might hold sentimental value.

Grand Forks 3 months ago

found P

Bright green budgie with yellow head found near UND

Found a bright green budgie with a yellow head this afternoon around 2:15pm. I spotted it perched on a streetlight pole by the UND Bookstore on University Ave, near the campus quad in Grand Forks. It has a small blue cheek patch and a blue leg band with the numbers 'G-52'. The bird is very tame and hopped onto my finger briefly before flying to a nearby sign and then back onto a hedge. It seems healthy and well cared for, and I’d love to help reunite it with its owner—if you’re missing a pet, please reach out with a description of the bird and the band number.

Grand Forks 6 months ago

found E

Found black JBL Bluetooth speaker on the playground near Riverside Park in Grand Forks.

I found a black JBL Bluetooth speaker on the playground near Riverside Park in Grand Forks. It's been there for a few days and looks a bit worn but still works perfectly. If this item belongs to you, please describe any unique features so I can verify its ownership.

Riverside Park Playground, Grand Forks, ND, USA 7 months ago