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

Helpful resources for St Augustine

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in St Augustine

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Found: Wild and Domestic in St. Augustine

I was strolling along St. George Street in St. Augustine around 3:15 PM when I spotted a Wild and Domestic item left behind on a bench near the Castillo de San Marcos. The brick sidewalks glowed warm in the sun and the fountain by the water whispered with a light spray. It looked recently dropped, with a small tag I couldn't read clearly, so I pocketed it for a moment and looked around for the owner. I can only imagine their relief when this find reaches them, and I hope it helps them get back to their day soon.

near Castillo de San Marcos, St. Augustine 12 days ago

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Found leashes near Castillo de San Marcos, St Augustine.

I was walking along St. George Street by the Castillo de San Marcos yesterday afternoon around 2:15 PM when I found a pair of dog leashes tangled on the curb. There is a blue nylon leash and a red leash with worn stitching; both are clearly used but clean. I am posting this here because I know how important these items are for a dog owner and I would feel the same if my leashes vanished. I hope the owner recognizes them and the site helps you get them back.

near the Castillo de San Marcos about 2 months ago

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Found holiday decorations in St. Augustine, Florida

I was walking back from the Castillo de San Marcos courtyard at 6:45 PM on Saturday when I found a box of holiday decorations tucked behind a planter by the Castillo gate. It wasn't mine, so I kept it safe and posted here to help reunite it with its owner. The bundle includes string lights, a red garland, and a few fragile glass ornaments with hand-painted details. The glow in those pieces reminded me of family gatherings, and I’d love to see them go back to someone who cherishes them as much as I did that evening.

Behind planter by Castillo de San Marcos gate 3 months ago

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Found pins near Castillo de San Marcos

I was strolling along Saint George Street around 6:45 PM on Tuesday when I spotted a small pin set left on a bench just outside the Castillo de San Marcos. The pins looked like a little collection from a local club—bright enamel colors, a compass, and a tiny lighthouse figure. There wasn’t a note or any contact information, so I kept them safe and decided to post here in case the owner sees it. I know how special a small pin can feel, especially when it marks a memory from this charming corner of town.

Reward

near Castillo de San Marcos 3 months ago

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Found sheet music near Castillo de San Marcos, St Augustine

I was walking along St. George Street near the Castillo de San Marcos this morning, around 9:10 a.m., when I spotted a folder of sheet music left on a bench outside a cafe. The pages look like a mishmash of classical pieces with a few pencil notations in the margins. I picked it up and kept it safe as I wandered toward the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine, hoping to help reunite it with its owner. Music has a way of finding its way home, and I would be happy to hand this back to someone who recognizes their name or initials on the cover.

St George Street near Castillo de San Marcos 4 months ago

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Found travel guide near St George Street

I found a paperback travel guide this afternoon around 2:15pm on St George Street, just outside a cafe by the Bridge of Lions. It's a paperback copy of The Art of Travel with a bright yellow cover and blue lettering. The corners are a little dog-eared and there's a slim red bookmark sticking out from page 134. On the inside cover someone wrote 'Maria Chen' in neat pen, and there's a faint coffee stain along the back. If you're the owner, I'd be happy to get it back to you in St Augustine.

St Augustine 4 months ago