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

Helpful resources for Janesville

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Janesville

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Found: Drones near Lincoln Park

I’m Daniel Weber. I found a drone on the bike path behind Lincoln Park in downtown Janesville, around 3:45 p.m. today. It’s a mid-sized quad with a black body and blue prop guards, a white sticker on the rim that reads AeroFly. It looked recently dropped, with the camera lens clean and the controller nearby, as if someone paused to check a map and forgot it. I’m not sure whose it is, but I’ve turned it in to the city’s lost-and-found so the owner can claim it through the site.

behind Lincoln Park, near the Rock River trailhead, Janesville 11 days ago

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Found shirts left on bench by Riverside Park.

I found a stack of shirts on a bench by Riverside Park along the Rock River in Janesville this morning around 9:15 AM. The shirts look like they belong to a local team—one displays a faint 'Janesville Rockets' logo. They were draped over the bench near the walking path, as if someone paused to adjust a shoe laces and forgot them behind. It didn’t sit right with me to leave them there, so I brought them here and kept them folded, hoping the owner will see this soon.

Riverside Park, by the Rock River trail, Janesville 12 days ago

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Found travel visas behind Janesville Public Library

I was walking back to my car after a study session at a coffee shop and found a folder behind the Janesville Public Library on Academy Street around 5:15 PM. The folder was labeled Travel Visas and contained several visa pages and travel documents. It looked like someone’s important paperwork, so I felt a mix of relief and worry for the owner. I’m posting here in hopes the rightful owner will see it and reclaim what’s theirs.

Behind Janesville Public Library on Academy Street about 2 months ago

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Found Nintendo Switch with neon Joy-Cons

I found a Nintendo Switch console this afternoon around 2:15 pm tucked under the passenger seat of the parking lot behind the Janesville Mall on Center Street, near GameStop. It's in a gray carrying case with a bright red sticker on the front and neon blue and red Joy-Con controllers attached. The screen is clean, and the device seems in good working order, with a protective screen cover showing a few fingerprints but no cracks. There's a small scratch on the back near the left edge and a custom sticker that looks like a tiny phoenix. I'd be happy to help reunite it with its owner.

Janesville 4 months ago

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Black North Face parka found near library

I found a black North Face parka this afternoon around 2:15 pm behind the Janesville Public Library on Main Street, near the bike racks by the bus stop. It's a men's medium with an orange inner lining and a small tear at the left cuff. There's a white stitched logo on the chest and a blue carabiner clipped to the inner pocket. It smells a bit like rain and looks recently worn, but it's in solid condition overall. If this belongs to you, email [email protected] and we can arrange a pickup.

Janesville 4 months ago

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Pink unicorn plush with rainbow mane

I found a pink unicorn plush this afternoon around 2:15pm near the Riverside Park entrance off Main Street in Janesville. It's about 12 inches tall, soft pink fleece with a bright rainbow mane and a shiny silver horn. There's a teal bow on its left ear and a small blue star sticker on the right hind leg, plus a tag inside that reads 'Aurora.' The toy has a little wear, slightly matted fur from lots of hugging, but otherwise seems well loved. It clearly means a lot to a kid, and I would like to see it back with its owner. If you think this is yours, reply here and we can arrange a safe meetup near City Hall fountain.

Janesville 4 months ago