Personal property in a tax sale home - NY

[Michelle G.]

Good Morning! Hoping for some insight from you knowledgeable folks... I picked up a house at the recent county tax sale. This is NY so I have the deed. I'm guessing it has been empty about 3 years. It was owned by an elderly vet, and was never packed up when he left. One neighbor says he died, another said he is in a VA hospital somewhere. I would like to know what my responsibility is for everything left behind. Nothing looks valuable, and there are some personal papers. What kind of responsibility do I have to find the owner? Can I just post in the newspaper? How much time do I have to give? Anyone with any experience? Thanks!