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

Helpful resources for Muncie / Anderson

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Muncie / Anderson

found J

FOUND: Avians in Muncie/Anderson

I found a small cage with three canaries near the Bethel Avenue bus stop by Ball State University in Muncie, around 11:20 AM on Tuesday. The cage had chipped blue paint and a makeshift perch; the birds watched me with curious eyes as I approached. I had been walking from the student union toward Minnetrista Park when I spotted the bright yellow-and-green trio tucked beneath a bench. I moved them to the shaded edge of a cafe awning and stayed nearby a moment, hoping whoever they belong to would see this listing. They seemed startled but unharmed, and I felt relieved.

Bethel Ave bus stop near Ball State, Muncie about 14 hours ago

found D

Belts found at Muncie Mall parking lot

This afternoon, around 3:45 PM, I found a handful of belts in the parking lot at the Muncie Mall, near the entrance by the Food Court. They were tangled together in a small bag that must have fallen from a cart or trunk, perhaps after someone hurried off. It made me think how easy it is to misplace something small after a busy day of errands, and I felt a little relief knowing they might be reunited with their owner soon. I’m keeping them here in case someone recognizes them.

Entrance by the Food Court, Muncie Mall about 1 month ago

found P

Found iPhone 12 Pro in neon-green case

I found an iPhone 12 Pro this afternoon around 3:15 pm outside the Starbucks on Bethel Avenue, near Ball State University. It’s in a neon-green silicone case with a tiny panda sticker on the back and a small coffee-ring mark near the bottom edge. The screen is clean, but there are a couple of light scratches along the bezel and the charging port shows a bit of wear. I know how stressful it is to lose a phone, so I’m hoping the owner will see this and claim it soon—if this is yours, tell me a wallpaper detail or the name of a saved contact and we can arrange a meetup in the same area.

Muncie / Anderson 3 months ago

found P

Leopard gecko in terrarium found near Walmart

I found a leopard gecko this afternoon around 2:15pm in the parking lot behind the Walmart on Scatterfield Rd in Anderson. It’s about 4 inches long from snout to tail, yellow with brown spots and a bright orange tail. It’s currently in a clear plastic terrarium with a small heat lamp and a tiny water dish; the lid is a bit loose, so I wrapped a rubber band around it to hold it shut. A distinctive feature is a crescent-shaped brown mark behind the right eye, which should help you spot it if it’s yours. If this is yours, message me here and we can meet at the Walmart entrance to get your gecko back.

Muncie / Anderson 4 months ago

found P

Mid-century oak coffee table with brass trim

I found a mid-century oak coffee table with a glass insert this afternoon around 2:45pm on Main Street, right outside the old Muncie Courthouse near the Adams Street corner. It’s about 4 feet long and 18 inches tall, with a glossy honey oak finish and a brass rim around the glass. There’s a small drawer in the middle with a brass pull, and underneath there’s a faint pencil scribble reading D-57 on the underside. The table shows some wear—a tiny dent on one leg and a scratch across the glass—but it feels sturdy and has a warm vintage vibe. If it belongs to someone, I’d love to help get it back; I can hold onto it for a bit while you swing by the area.

Muncie / Anderson 4 months ago

found A

Ball State student ID on blue lanyard

I found a Ball State University student ID card this morning around 10:15am in the parking lot behind the BSU Bookstore on West McKinley Ave in Muncie. The card is blue-tinted plastic with the photo of a student in a gray BSU hoodie, and it’s attached to a blue lanyard with the BSU logo. There’s a small coffee stain on the back corner, and the photo corner is slightly bent from being in a pocket. If this is yours, I can return it—these IDs matter and I’d hate for you to be without it; you can reach me at [email protected].

Muncie / Anderson 5 months ago