When a security guard finds lost property, report it to management immediately.

Outline (quick skeleton)

• Opening thought: found property isn’t a score, it’s a trust moment

• The right move, clearly: report to management

• Why this matters: policy, law, and keeping everyone protected

• The not-so-smart options and their risks

• A practical drill: steps when you find something

• Ontario context: where processes live in real life

• Quick tools and documentation that help

• A tight, human takeaway you can carry on shift

• Encouraging close: integrity in small moments

Found property is a trust moment, not a trophy

Here’s the thing: when you’re on duty as a security guard in Ontario, finding lost property isn’t a personal win. It’s a moment that tests your judgment, your honesty, and your commitment to a safer space for everyone around you. You’re not there to decide what to do based on mood or convenience. You’re there to keep people safe and to follow the rules that keep the site running smoothly. So, what should you do if you stumble upon something that clearly isn’t yours?

The right move, clearly: report to management

For most security teams in Ontario, the correct action is to immediately report it to management. Why is this the standard? Because it ensures the item is handled according to established procedures, preserves legal protections, and preserves a clear chain of custody. When something valuable or important is found, you don’t want to be guessing or improvising. You want the property to be documented, logged, and handed to the right person who can take the next step—whether that’s logging it in the lost-and-found system, contacting the owner, or involving local authorities if needed.

Think of it like returning a found wallet in a busy mall. If you keep it, you risk both liability and reputational harm. If you hand it over to management, you’re following a transparent, auditable path that makes the owner’s return more likely and protects everyone involved.

A clear, practical why: policy, liability, and a safe outcome

• Policy alignment: Organizations lay out how found property must be handled, who must be notified, and how the chain of custody is maintained. Following this keeps everyone on the same page and reduces confusion during busy shifts.

• Legal and ethical duty: Proper handling helps ensure the rightful owner can reclaim their item, while also avoiding accusations of misuse or misplacement. You’re protecting your employer and yourself from later questions about what happened to the item.

• Safe return to owner: The quickest, most reliable path to reuniting a person with their property is through the right channels. Management, in turn, coordinates with the appropriate department (lost-and-found, security records, or police) depending on value and policy.

• Liability minimization: Mishandling found property can create thorny legal issues or discipline. White‑glove care in the handling process shows you’re serious about safety and trust.

What not to do and why

• Take it for personal use: This is a quick way to escalate into trouble. It breaks trust, violates policy, and opens up disciplinary action.

• Leave it where it is: It might seem convenient, but it can become someone else’s headache, or it could be misused by others. It also signals a lapse in procedure.

• Give it to a colleague: That might look like a handoff, but it still bypasses the official process and can lead to accountability gaps.

A practical drill: steps to take the moment you find something

• Stop and assess: Note the item’s location, time, and any identifying features. If you can, photograph it without touching anything sensitive.

• Don’t touch or move it more than necessary: Preserve the scene as you found it.

• Notify the appropriate supervisor or security lead immediately.

• Document the find: Fill out an incident or found-item report with details like item type, approximate value, any badges or identifiers, how you found it, and who witnessed it if applicable.

• Transfer through the proper channel: Give the item to management or the designated lost-and-found coordinator so it can be logged and stored properly.

• Follow up: Check back to ensure the item is logged, stored securely, and efforts to locate the owner are underway.

Ontario in real life: how this shows up on a site

On a campus, office complex, mall, or hospital in Ontario, the “report it now” habit looks the same, but the specifics can vary. Some places keep a locked box for found items; others rely on a daily handoff to a central security desk. In both cases, the goal is to maintain a clear trail from discovery to return. The regulators and the public both benefit when a site can demonstrate that found items aren’t simply shuffled around. They want to see that owners have a fair shot at recovering their belongings, and that the security team acted responsibly.

Tools and documentation that support the process

• A simple found-property logbook or digital entry system: Record item description, location found, time, who found it, and the person who took custody. This creates a chain of custody that’s easy to audit later.

• Incident reports: A brief, precise narrative helps management understand the situation and decide next steps—like whether to involve local authorities for certain items.

• Lost-and-found inventory: If your site uses a dedicated system, ensure the item is entered with a case number and storage location.

• Communication templates: Quick scripts or forms for notifying supervisors and the lost-and-found team reduce drift and delay.

A quick example to illustrate how it plays out

Imagine you’re patrolling a shopping center in downtown Toronto. You find a leather wallet on a bench near a bakery. It’s clearly someone’s loss, and there’s a name on an ID card inside. Your instinct is to stay calm, snap a quick note, and report to your supervisor right away. They guide you through logging the item, handing it to the security desk, and sending a notification to the lost-and-found team. A week later, the owner shows up with ID and the wallet is returned. Everyone breathes a little easier, and the center’s reputation for trustworthy security gets a boost. Small moment, big impact.

A little digression that still stays on topic

Found-property handling is a lot like customer service: people’s belongings are deeply personal. The moment you treat a found item with respect, you’re communicating a larger message about how much the site values safety and integrity. It’s not glamorous, but it’s essential. And yes, it can feel tedious on a late shift when nothing exciting seems to happen. Yet those quiet, careful decisions are the backbone of a secure environment.

A practical, quick checklist you can use on shift

• When you see something that isn’t yours, stop and assess.

• Do not move or tamper with the item more than necessary.

• Notify the supervisor immediately with a concise description.

• Complete the found-item record in the system or logbook.

• Hand the item to management or the designated lost-and-found point.

• Confirm the item has been logged, stored securely, and is trackable.

• Follow up if the owner hasn’t been located within policy-defined timeframes.

The big picture: why this matters beyond one shift

Consistently choosing to report found property to management reinforces trust with guests, employees, and clients. It reflects a culture of accountability and careful practice that stands up under scrutiny. On a practical level, it reduces the chance of misplacement turning into a bigger problem. It also often helps protect the organization from liability that could arise if property is mishandled or if an owner later claims loss without clear records.

A closing thought: integrity in small moments

So, the next time you find something on a post, a hallway, or a waiting room, remember: “Immediately report it to management.” It’s short, it’s practical, and it’s the responsible thing to do. You’re not just following rules; you’re helping real people get their belongings back and showing that your site takes security seriously—from the biggest item to the smallest coin.

If you’re mapping out your Ontario security scenarios or putting together an on-site guide, keep this principle front and center. It’s one of those quiet, powerful rules that makes a huge difference in real life. And that kind of consistency—well, it speaks volumes about professional integrity, doesn’t it?