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

Helpful resources for La Salle Co

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in La Salle Co

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Found: Rabbits in Ottawa, La Salle Co

I found two rabbits wandering near Riverside Park in Ottawa around 3:40 p.m. today. They looked cautious yet curious, noses twitching and ears perked at every buzzing leaf. One is white with brown ears; the other is gray with a small blue collar that may have fallen off. They seemed hungry and a bit frightened, sticking close to the bench by the flower beds until I gently coaxed them into a crate I carry for stray animals. I brought them to safety in my car and kept close watch. If the owner sees this, please reach out through the site so we can reunite them.

Riverside Park area, Ottawa 1 day ago

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Found: Organizers turned in by a neighbor.

At about 7:15 p.m. on Sunday, I found a small set of black plastic organizers with a bright lime label behind a bench near the La Salle County Courthouse in Ottawa, IL. They were dusty from the ground but otherwise intact, tucked between a planter and a trash can. I imagined the owner frantically sifting through desk drawers and felt a tug of responsibility and relief all at once. I'm posting this here to help reunite the item with its owner, hoping the right owner sees it and recognizes it fast.

near the LaSalle County Courthouse 4 days ago

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Found gold hoops in La Salle Co, IL

I found a pair of gold hoop earrings around 4:20 p.m. on Saturday near the Starved Rock State Park Visitor Center in La Salle County. They were lying in the parking lot by the Bucktail Trailhead, just where the trail begins and families stash backpacks. They glittered in the late afternoon light, clearly worn but not damaged. I’m posting this in case the owner recognizes them; I’d be relieved to see them back with the right person.

Near Starved Rock State Park Visitor Center 5 days ago

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Found Airline ticket on Canal Street

On Tuesday at 4:22 p.m., I found an airline ticket lying on the sidewalk outside the Ottawa Public Library on Canal Street. It looks like a passenger’s itinerary and boarding stub, with a name I won’t repeat here, and a faded logo from the airline. I tucked it into my pocket and kept it safe, hoping the owner would see this listing and reclaim it. It feels odd to have someone else’s travel plans, but I’d hate for this to disappear into someone’s lost-and-found vortex.

Canal Street near Ottawa Public Library 10 days ago

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Found: document holders in La Salle County

This morning around 9:15 AM I found a set of document holders on a bench outside the Ottawa Public Library on Joliet Street in Ottawa. They’re black leather, with a few labels sticking out from the top and a tidy stack of receipts inside. The owner’s handwriting on a few slips suggests they’re used to staying organized, which makes me think they belong to someone who needed them right away. I’ve left the items in a safe spot nearby in case the owner returns looking for them.

Sentimental

Outside Ottawa Public Library, Joliet St, Ottawa about 2 months ago

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found handheld and console in La Salle Co

I found a handheld device and a console on the curb behind the Starved Rock Market on Main Street in Ottawa, around 6:42 p.m. last Thursday. The screens glowed softly as a light rain began and streetlights blurred in the wet pavement. I tucked the items into a tote and brought them here, thinking of the person who must be worried and hoping they’ll see this and get them back soon. I’ll keep them safe in the meantime, and I hope the rightful owner finds them through this site.

Behind Starved Rock Market on Main St, Ottawa 3 months ago