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

Helpful resources for Lafayette / West Lafayette

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Lafayette / West Lafayette

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Found driver's license near Purdue Union, 4:15 pm

I was walking back from the Purdue Memorial Union around 4:15 pm on Friday when I found a driver's license on the sidewalk near the Union's glass doors. The card is a standard Indiana license, with a clear photo and the blue gradient design. My stomach dropped a little, remembering how easy it is to misplace something important, so I tucked it away and posted here to help. If the owner recognizes the photo, I hope this leads you to it. I waited near the bus stop by Third Street, in the shade of the Union's entrance.

near Purdue Memorial Union, West Lafayette 12 days ago

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Leopard gecko found near Purdue campus; tan with spots

I found this leopard gecko this afternoon around 3:15 pm outside the Purdue Memorial Union on State Street in West Lafayette. It’s about 4-5 inches from snout to tail, sandy tan with irregular brown spots along the back, and a yellowish tail that’s a bit plump. It has a slightly kinked tail and a tiny scar on its left front toe I noticed when I picked it up to check it wasn’t injured. It seems pretty calm, which makes me think it’s a pet rather than wild. It clearly belongs to someone, I’d hate for it to wander off further. If you recognize it, drop me a note here and I’ll help connect you with the owner.

Lafayette / West Lafayette 19 days ago

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Found beagle mix with blue eye, red collar

Found a small beagle mix this afternoon around 2:15 pm in the parking lot behind the Purdue Memorial Union on Grant Street. It's about 18 pounds, mostly white with brown and black patches, and it has a distinctive blue left eye. The dog wears a bright red collar with a small brass tag that doesn't have legible contact info. I sat with it, it wagged happily, and I brought it to the West Lafayette Animal Shelter to scan for a microchip while I posted this—if this sounds like your dog, reply here and we can arrange a meet-up.

Lafayette / West Lafayette about 2 months ago

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Black metronome with red Tempo label found near Purdue

I found a small black metronome with a red 'Tempo' label on the front. It's palm-sized, about 4 inches tall, and a bit dusty from practice, but the ticking mechanism seems solid. I picked it up this afternoon around 3:45pm behind the Purdue Memorial Union, near the bike racks by the State Street entrance. There’s a tiny white sticker on the back with a blue star, and one rubber foot is missing. If this belongs to you, reply here and we can meet up for a quick pickup near Chauncey Village or the Union area.

Lafayette / West Lafayette 3 months ago

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Found orange Korg microKORG synth near Purdue campus

I found a black Korg microKORG synth with orange end caps this afternoon around 3:15 pm in the parking lot behind the Lafayette Theater on Main Street. It’s in decent cosmetic shape, a few small scratches along the top panel and a shallow dent on the lower right corner. There’s a bright blue sticker on the back with the initials 'JW' and a tiny doodle of a rocket, which helps identify it. The keyboard and knobs feel solid when I tested a quick scan of some keys, and it powered on with a warm synth-like hum. If it's yours, I can hold onto it near the theater or meet up nearby to return it.

Lafayette / West Lafayette 3 months ago

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Black rectangular glasses with silver accents

I found a pair of black rectangular glasses this afternoon around 3:15 PM behind the Purdue Memorial Union near the fountain on Memorial Mall. The frames are matte black acetate with a slim silver line along the outer rims and a tiny scratch on the left temple. Inside the right temple there's a small engraving that reads 'J.S.' and the lenses have a faint edge glare but overall they're in decent shape. If you think these are yours, message me with a description of the engraving and where you think you dropped them, and we can meet near the Union to get them back.

Lafayette / West Lafayette 3 months ago