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: Work Cases in Jacksonville, FL

I was walking along the riverfront near the Times-Union Center in downtown Jacksonville yesterday around 4:15 PM when I spotted two work cases sitting unattended on a bench. They’re sturdy, with worn leather handles and a lot of paperwork peeking out from the zippers. Inside, I found notebooks with a sticker that says 'Project May 2024' and a handful of USB drives, which told me someone was rushing to make a deadline. I picked them up and kept them safe, hoping the owner would recognize them soon and come for them.

near the Times-Union Center, downtown Jacksonville 5 days ago

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Found organizers in Jacksonville, FL.

I found someone's organizers this morning around 9:15 AM along the Riverwalk near the Main Street Bridge in downtown Jacksonville. They’re a compact set of planners with sticky notes, a spiral calendar, and a few labeled folders—clearly someone relies on them for their week. I asked around the benches and nearby cafe, but no one claimed them, so I brought them to the downtown lost-and-found so the owner can regain them through the site.

Riverwalk area, downtown Jacksonville near the Main Street Bridge about 2 months ago

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Found: Dolls near Riverside Park, Jacksonville

I found a pair of dolls on the bench by the fountain near Riverside Park around 6:15 p.m. on Saturday. One has curly blonde hair and a pink dress; the other is a blue-eyed boy in denim overalls. They looked a bit dusty, and I gently brushed off a few leaves before leaving them on the bench where someone might pass by again. I can imagine a child wandering the Riverwalk, maybe feeling upset after losing them, and it warmed me to think they might be reunited with their owner soon.

Riverside Park fountain, near the Riverwalk about 2 months ago

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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 3 months 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 4 months 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 5 months ago