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

found D

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 25 days ago

found A

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 5 months ago

found P

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 6 months ago

found P

Black 25-key MIDI controller found near UNM Bookstore

I found a black 25-key MIDI controller this afternoon around 4:15 pm outside the UNM Bookstore on Central Ave NE in Albuquerque. It’s a compact USB-powered keyboard, likely a Novation Launchkey Mini, with a few light scratches along the right edge. There’s a bright blue sticker on the top panel that says 'Studio A' and a small dent on the bottom-left corner—easy to spot if you know where to look. It powered on when I plugged it in, and the keys felt reasonably responsive, so I figured it might mean something to someone who uses it for classes or gigs. If this belongs to you, reach out and we can arrange a safe pickup near Campus Plaza.

Albuquerque 7 months ago

found S

Found black leather briefcase with papers and a keychain name tag on a bench at Albuquerque Plaza.

I found a black leather briefcase while walking through Albuquerque Plaza yesterday. It was just sitting on a bench, and it appeared to have some important papers inside. There’s no identification, but there was a name tag on the keychain. If anyone is missing it, please reach out to claim it.

Albuquerque Plaza, Albuquerque, NM, USA 11 months ago

found E

Found brown leather briefcase with personal items at the bus stop near Central and Yale in Albuquerque.

I found a brown leather briefcase this morning at the bus stop near Central and Yale in Albuquerque. It looks quite costly and has a few personal items inside, including a planner and some business cards with the name 'John Smith'. If this is yours, please reach out with details to verify.

Bus Stop near Central Avenue and Yale Boulevard, Albuquerque, NM, USA 11 months ago