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

Helpful resources for Jacksonville

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Jacksonville

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Found: Pins near Riverwalk in Jacksonville

I was walking along the Riverwalk by Friendship Fountain around 6:45 p.m. Friday when I spotted a small pile of pins on the pavement. There are several enamel pins and a couple of lapel pins with city colors, clearly dropped in a hurry. They looked important to someone, maybe from a club, sport, or parade, and they carried memories. If these pins belong to you, they’re safe with me here and waiting to be reunited through the site.

Reward

Near Friendship Fountain, Riverwalk, Downtown Jacksonville 11 days ago

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Green paperback mystery with notes

I found a paperback mystery novel this afternoon around 2:45pm outside the Jacksonville Public Library on N Laura St, Downtown Jacksonville, right near the main entrance. It's a green Penguin Books edition, about 336 pages, with a creased spine and a small coffee stain along the bottom edge. There's a blue bookmark sticking out between pages and a sticky note tucked inside the front cover that says 'For Sam' in neat handwriting. The jacket is a little worn, but the pages are clean, and the vibe is cozy-serious, like it traveled through a few coffee breaks. If you recognize the bookmark or the note, please get in touch. I would be glad to return it to you.

Jacksonville about 1 month ago

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Kindle Paperwhite with blue pineapple sticker found downtown

Found a Kindle Paperwhite e-reader this afternoon around 4:15pm on the Riverfront Promenade by Friendship Fountain in downtown Jacksonville. It's in a black fabric cover with a bright blue pineapple sticker on the back, a slightly cracked screen protector, and a few light scratches. The device powers on and shows the library, so I didn't go deeper into it to respect privacy. If this sounds like yours, message me in the app and we can arrange a safe handoff.

Jacksonville about 2 months ago

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Found leopard gecko, orange tail, Jacksonville

Found a leopard gecko in the parking lot behind the Target on Atlantic Boulevard this afternoon around 3:20pm. It's about 5 inches long from head to tail, pale yellow-green with brown spots and a bright orange tail. The gecko has a small pale scar on the top of its head near the left eye and a faint white dot on the underside near the tail base. It's calm but a bit skittish and I kept it in a ventilated container with a shallow dish of water and some pinhead crickets, with a small heat pad on low. I know someone out there is missing a pet—reunifications like this really matter. If you recognize it, send me a message and we can arrange a safe handoff.

Jacksonville about 2 months ago

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Found mid-century oak coffee table with brass legs

I found this afternoon around 2:30pm behind the Riverside Arts Market along Riverside Ave in Jacksonville. It's a solid oak coffee table, about 3 feet long, 1.5 feet wide, with a warm honey finish and slim brass legs that taper nicely. There are a couple of light scratches along the edge and a small dent on the front-left corner. The underside has a tiny brass plate that reads 'Marin Studio,' which is a nice identifying detail. I spotted it propped against a curb next to a potted plant, clearly left there by someone. If this belongs to you, I’d hate for it to drift farther away—let me know in the app and we’ll work out getting it back to you.

Jacksonville 4 months ago

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Le Creuset red Dutch oven with glass lid

I found a Le Creuset red Dutch oven with a glass lid this afternoon around 2:15pm behind a bench near the Riverside Arts Market on Park Street, along the St. Johns River in Jacksonville. It's a glossy Flame red, a 3-quart model, in great condition with no chips, just a tiny enamel nick on the rim and a faint scratch on the lid knob. The bottom has a faded 'Made in France' sticker and the '3 qt' engraving is faint. I'd love to get it back to its owner; it clearly meant a lot to someone. If this sounds like yours, I'll hold onto it at the Lost & Found near City Hall and coordinate pickup. You can reach me at [email protected].

Jacksonville 4 months ago