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 key chain with anniversary message

Found key chain with anniversary message in Central Park west drive. Found today late evening 9/6/2026

Sentimental Urgent

New York City 6 days ago

found L

Found headphones on the R train in Queens

Hi, I found this headphones on the R train via Queens at 11am.

New York City 12 days ago

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Found Hand Tools in NYC

I found a metal toolbox near Grand Central Terminal around 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, tucked behind a stack of crates. Inside were wrenches, pliers, a hammer, and a tape measure—clearly someone’s home project kit. The tools looked well-used but cared-for, and I hoped they would end up with their rightful owner.

Near Grand Central Terminal about 1 month ago

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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 about 2 months 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 about 2 months 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 2 months ago