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

Helpful resources for New York City

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in New York City

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Found wrist watches near Grand Central Terminal

I found wrist watches outside Grand Central Terminal, 42nd Street entrance, around 8:15 p.m. on Tuesday. There were three watches: a silver stainless model with a blue face, a vintage gold-tone chronograph, and a sleek black sport watch with a bright orange strap. They looked recently dropped, just waiting for someone to claim them. I stood there for a moment, thinking of the owner and how the city can feel like a big maze. I'm hoping this listing helps reunite them with the person who owns them.

Outside Grand Central Terminal, 42nd Street entrance 3 days ago

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Found Coins in New York City

Hi, I'm Alex Carter. I found a pouch of coins outside Grand Central Terminal around 11:45 AM on Wednesday, after stepping out of the subway hall. The pouch holds pennies, nickels, and a few foreign coins, tucked inside a worn zipper pouch with a frayed pull tag. I kept it in my bag and asked nearby staff what to do. The coins look like someone saved for a bus fare or a quick coffee; there’s a crumpled receipt folded inside too. I’m posting here because I want the owner to be reunited with their money. I’ll keep it safe here until the owner claims it on the site.

Outside Grand Central Terminal, East Side entrance 6 days ago

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Found microwave in NYC building kitchen

I was cleaning the shared kitchen in my building near Union Square when I found a microwave tucked behind the coffee maker, around 7:45 pm last Tuesday. The chrome door caught the light and the handle felt cool to the touch, like it had just been moved from another home. It didn't belong to our unit, so I set it on the counter and posted here, hoping to get it back to its owner through the site. It felt like a small mystery solved, a bright moment amid the hectic city evening.

near Union Square, Manhattan 21 days ago

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found Sheet Music in NYC

I found this Sheet Music on a bench near Bryant Park around 2:30 p.m. on Thursday while heading to a rehearsal. The worn folder holds several pages edged with pencil notes and a cover that reads 'Violin Concerto in D major' in someone’s handwriting. There’s no name on the outside, just a concert program slipped inside. The day was bright, the park was busy, and I kept the piece safe in my bag and turned it in here so the owner can claim it through the site. I hope the owner sees this post and is soon reunited with it.

Bryant Park, near the 42nd St entrance about 1 month ago

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Black iPhone 12 Pro with blue OtterBox case

I found a black iPhone 12 Pro this afternoon around 3:15pm on the sidewalk outside Grand Central Terminal, near the 42nd Street entrance. It's in a bright blue OtterBox case with a white paw-print sticker on the back and a small crack across the top-left corner of the screen. The phone is a little scratched along the right edge, but it powered on and showed a few photos when I opened it. If this belongs to you, DM me with a detail like the wallpaper or the contact name in the last message, and we can arrange to get it back.

New York City 3 months ago

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Framed abstract painting with orange accents

I found a framed abstract painting with orange and teal swirls this afternoon around 2:15pm outside Chelsea Market on 9th Ave between 15th and 16th Street. It’s an 18x24 inch oil on canvas in a black wood frame with a small dent at the lower right corner. There’s a back sticker that reads 'M. Ortega, 2023' and a faint fingerprint on the glass. It looks meaningful and I’d really like to see it go back to its owner — if you’re missing it, I’m happy to help reunite you.

New York City 3 months ago