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

Helpful resources for Albuquerque

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Albuquerque

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Found travel adapters near Old Town Plaza.

I was wandering through Old Town Albuquerque on a sunny Saturday around 11:40 AM when I spotted a bundle of travel adapters tucked beneath a bench by the fountain. They looked like a jumble of USB-C cables and multiple plug adapters, the kind someone would grab at the last minute before a flight. I picked them up and tucked them into my tote, thinking about how stressful it is to lose a charger while traveling. I’m posting this here in hopes the owner recognizes them.

Old Town Plaza fountain area, Albuquerque 5 days ago

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FOUND power tools near Old Town Albuquerque

I was watering the front yard on Saturday afternoon when I spotted a yellow toolbox sitting on the curb of Central Avenue near Old Town. Inside was a cordless drill, a circular saw, and a taped measure—clearly a batch of tools someone had been using recently. It was around 4:20 p.m., and the sun was already dipping behind the La Luz mountains, casting long shadows on Albuquerque's brick storefronts. I figured they belonged to someone who needs them for a project and brought them to a safe spot where people leave items for others. I hope the owner sees this and knows they’ve been found.

Central Ave near Old Town Plaza 11 days ago

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Found dolls near Old Town Plaza, Albuquerque

I was walking through Old Town Albuquerque around 11:40 AM today when I spotted two dolls propped against the stone fountain near the bronze coyote sculpture. One wore a bright yellow dress, the other a sky-blue one, both with tiny scuffs and a missing button on the blue dress. Their hair is a bit tangled, as if they've been carried around by a kid who fell in love with them and forgot them at the edge of the plaza. I picked them up and kept them safe in a bag, hoping the owner will recognize the outfits and the little details.

near the fountain at Old Town Plaza 19 days ago

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Found: Toasters in Albuquerque

I was strolling through Albuquerque's Old Town Plaza around 7:45 p.m. last Saturday when I spotted two toasters sitting on a bench outside a coffee shop by the Route 66 Diner. They looked recently used, with a few crumbs and a faint coffee stain on the plastic. I brought them here, thinking someone in the neighborhood might be missing their kitchen companions. They’re two standard-slotted toasters, one with a chrome face and the other with a white enamel front. If these are yours, the site will connect you with me so we can arrange a safe pickup near Old Town Plaza.

Near Old Town Plaza, Route 66 Diner 3 months ago

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Violin in black case (String Instrument) found

I found a violin this afternoon around 3pm outside the UNM Bookstore on Central Ave near campus in Albuquerque. It's a 4/4 violin with a sunburst finish, housed in a glossy black hard case that's a bit scuffed at the top corner. The bow has a red ribbon tied at the frog, and there's a small sticker of a cat on the lid. Inside, there's a faded label with a name and a phone number written in pen. I can tell this instrument probably means a lot to someone, and I’d really like to help get it back to its owner.

Albuquerque 7 months ago

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Silver charm bracelet with heart charms

I found a silver charm bracelet this morning around 9:10 am near Old Town Plaza, outside the Plaza Donuts shop on San Felipe Street in Albuquerque. It's a slim bracelet about 6 inches long with several charms: a tiny heart, a turquoise bead, and a round enamel charm with a mint-green design. The clasp is stamped with the initials 'AR,' and there's a light coffee stain on the back from a quick morning stop. The bracelet is in good condition overall; I figured it's probably someone’s sentimental piece, and I’d love to help reunite it with its owner. If you think it's yours, email me at [email protected].

Albuquerque 8 months ago