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

Helpful resources for Huntsville / Decatur

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Huntsville / Decatur

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Solid oak coffee table with lower shelf

I found a solid oak coffee table this afternoon around 2:30pm, sitting near the curb behind the Target on University Drive in Huntsville. It's a rectangular table, about 48 inches long and 20 inches wide, with a natural oak finish and a sturdy open lower shelf. There are a couple distinguishing marks: a small dent on the front-left leg and a faint pencil engraving 'ML' on the underside near the shelf. The top has a light coffee stain that doesn’t affect stability, and there’s a tiny chip on the back edge. I’d really love to help reunite it with its owner.

Huntsville / Decatur about 2 months ago

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Blue toolbox found near Home Depot, Huntsville

Found this blue metal toolbox this afternoon around 2:15 pm in the parking lot behind the Home Depot on University Drive in Huntsville. It's about 14 inches long, with a bright yellow plastic handle and a slightly bent lid, plus a small magnetic tray inside. The box is still fairly clean, but the label on the inside reads REDLINE and there’s a wrinkled receipt from a hardware store stuffed in the bottom. I figured someone might be missing it after a quick DIY run, and I hate to see someone waste time looking for it. If you’re missing a toolbox, I hope this helps.

Huntsville / Decatur about 2 months ago

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Found gray dwarf hamster near Target

I found a tiny gray dwarf hamster yesterday around 3:15pm outside the Target on University Drive in Huntsville, near the main entrance. It's living in a light-blue plastic cage with a pink water bottle and a small wheel. The fur is gray with a white belly, palm-sized, and there’s a tiny notch on its left ear plus a small white patch on its chest—the kind of detail that makes it unique. It seems healthy and a bit shy, and I’ve kept it safe in the cage for now. I know it’s someone’s pet and would love to see it back with its owner who can verify those features. If this is your hamster, we can figure out a good pickup.

Huntsville / Decatur about 2 months ago

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Found gray Herschel tote near Bridge Street

I found a medium gray Herschel tote bag this afternoon around 4:15pm, lying next to a bench outside the Target on University Drive near Bridge Street Town Centre in Huntsville. It's a Herschel Supply Co. tote, about 14 inches wide, with a charcoal exterior and a bright pink interior that peeks out when you unzip it. Inside, there's a small notebook with a floral cover and a red glass pendant on the keyring—definitely easy to spot. I grabbed it because it didn’t look like anyone was around, and I figured someone might be worried if they lost it. If this is yours, message me here and we can arrange pickup.

Huntsville / Decatur 2 months ago

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Blue Ruffwear dog harness with lime trim

I found a blue Ruffwear Front Range dog harness with bright lime-green reflective trim, size Medium, in good condition aside from a light dirt trace from the parking lot. I found it this morning around 7:45 am in the parking lot behind the Target on Whitesburg Drive in Huntsville. It has a small paw-print charm attached to the buckle and a faint scuff on the back plate from rubbing on the ground. The harness is clearly used but sturdy, and I figured someone might be missing it during their morning walk. If this is yours, we can meet up near Target to confirm details and hand it back to you.

Huntsville / Decatur 3 months ago

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Blue US passport found behind Target on University Drive

Found a navy blue US passport this afternoon around 2:45pm in the parking lot behind the Target on University Drive in Huntsville. The cover looks new, with the gold seal and crisp lettering, and the inner page shows a standard portrait page—no sensitive data shown here. There’s a small coffee stain along the top edge and a tiny crease in the back cover from being tucked into a bag recently. I know losing a passport is scary, so I’m hoping to help get this back to its owner quickly—if you think this is yours, reach out and I’ll arrange a safe handoff at a public spot.

Huntsville / Decatur 4 months ago