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

Helpful resources for Seattle-Tacoma

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Seattle-Tacoma

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Found swimsuits near Tacoma Dome plaza, Tacoma, WA

I found several swimsuits tucked under a bench near the Tacoma Dome plaza early Sunday morning, about 7:40 a.m. The colors pop: a purple one-piece, blue-striped bikini, and a bright orange rash guard. I brought them to a safe spot and checked nearby lost-and-found postings, but there was no matching claim. They looked recently left behind, not dirty, so I’m hoping the owner sees this and claims them soon.

Tacoma Dome plaza, north parking lot, Tacoma, WA 13 days ago

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Small gold sapphire promise ring found

Small gold promise ring with sapphire stone , found August 12, Highland Park neighborhood, West Seattle

Seattle-Tacoma about 1 month ago

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Found chokers on a bench near Westlake Park.

I’m Alex Kim, a software designer who loves weekend strolls in the Seattle-Tacoma area. This past Friday around 6:15 p.m., I found a set of chokers on a bench outside a cafe along 4th Ave, not far from Westlake Park. There are three pieces: two black velvet chokers with silver clasps and one thin gold-chained piece. They look unused and have no note, so I kept them safe and hoped the owner would see this.

Reward

near Westlake Park, downtown Seattle about 1 month ago

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Ring found near Lincoln High School, Tacoma

Ring found 7/25/2026 in Tacoma on G street near Lincoln High School

Seattle-Tacoma about 2 months ago

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Found chargers near Pike Place Market, Seattle

Today around 2:20 p.m., I found a bundle of chargers under a bench by the Pike Place Market entrance on Pine Street. The pile includes several USB-C cables, a brick charger, and a few odd-brand adapters—clearly someone was rushing to get online or to a meeting. I picked them up, checked around for a possible owner, and tucked them into a safe spot in case they return. It felt good to do the right thing, and I hope the owner sees this and claims their gear soon.

Pike Place Market entrance, Pine St., Seattle about 2 months ago

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Found postcards near Pike Place Market, Seattle.

I was waiting for a friend outside the market at 11:15 AM on Saturday when a small stack of vintage postcards caught my eye on a bench by the waterfront. The cards are worn but charming, showing old Seattle neighborhoods and a few postage stamps from decades ago. They felt like a piece of someone’s memory, so I tucked them into my bag and brought them to the lost-and-found desk for safekeeping. If this is yours, you can claim it through the site.

Outside Pike Place Market, Seattle 2 months ago