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

Helpful resources for Philadelphia

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Philadelphia

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Found pins in Philadelphia

I was jogging along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and turning onto John F. Kennedy Boulevard yesterday around 6:10 p.m. when I spotted a small pile of enamel pins on the grassy area near the LOVE sculpture in JFK Plaza. There’s a red enamel heart pin and a tiny Philly-themed pin among them, plus a couple more with quirky designs. I collected them and kept them safe by the nearby snack stand until posting here. I hope someone recognizes these and can claim them soon—they look like they’ve been missed.

Near the LOVE Park sculpture at JFK Plaza, Philadelphia. 14 days ago

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Found Scarves outside Philadelphia City Hall

I was walking home from the Reading Terminal Market area at about 3:15 p.m. on December 3 when I spotted two scarves left on a bench outside Philadelphia City Hall on Broad Street. One scarf is gray knit, the other is red with a white snowflake pattern. It felt chilly, and I imagined how comforting it would be for someone to see these again. I kept them safe and posted this listing in case the rightful owners recognize them.

Outside City Hall, Broad Street 18 days ago

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Found several devices near City Hall, Philadelphia.

On Tuesday around 7:15 p.m., I found a bundle of devices on the sidewalk outside Reading Terminal Market along 12th Street. There was a laptop, a tablet, and a jumble of chargers and cables, all in a weathered black backpack. I felt a mix of relief and anxiety, hoping they belonged to someone nearby who would recognize them. I brought them to this listing because I figured someone might be worried and I'd rather see them get back to the right person than disappear.

near City Hall on Broad Street 2 months ago

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Black Anker PowerCore 20k mAh charger

I found a black Anker PowerCore 20,000 mAh portable charger this afternoon around 2:45pm outside the Reading Terminal Market entrance on 12th Street. It's in decent shape, with a couple of light scratches on the aluminum shell and a small dent near the USB-C port. There’s a blue fabric sleeve on the cable and a tiny white tag that reads A12. It looks like someone relies on this for daily use, so I know how stressful it can be to lose a backup battery. If this belongs to you, I’m happy to help arrange pickup with the market desk or meet nearby.

Philadelphia 4 months ago

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Silver necklace with pearl pendant, Philadelphia

I found a sterling silver necklace this afternoon around 3pm near Reading Terminal Market on Market Street. It's an 18-inch chain with a small heart pendant that has a tiny pink enamel flower and a faint pearl inlay. The clasp shows a slight bend and there are a couple of tiny scratches, but it's otherwise in good condition. It feels sentimental, and I’d love to get it back to its owner if anyone recognizes it.

Philadelphia 4 months ago

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Keys with blue fox charm found near Reading Terminal Market

I found a set of keys this afternoon around 3:15 pm near Reading Terminal Market on Market Street in Philadelphia. They’re on a brushed-nickel ring with about seven keys and a bright blue silicone fox charm attached. One key has a small red heart sticker on the handle, and there’s a tiny black USB drive clipped to the ring. The fox charm is easy to spot, and the keys look recently used but in decent condition. If anyone recognizes them, I’d be happy to return them to the owner; they seemed important and I’d hate for someone to be without their stuff.

Philadelphia 4 months ago