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

Helpful resources for Bend

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Bend

found L

Found keychain with three keys and Subaru fob

Found a keychain that has three keys and a Subaru car fob last Wednesday evening. They were lying on the sidewalk on Double Peaks Drive.

Bend 20 days ago

found A

Found sports equipment in Bend

I found this Equipment for Various Sports on the Deschutes River Trail near Drake Park in Bend this morning around 8:20. The gear was in a black mesh bag with a soccer ball, two tennis rackets, knee sleeves, and a water bottle with an orange cap. It seemed left in a hurry, and I can't help but imagine the owner checking every path by the river right now. If this belongs to you, please claim it through the site and I’ll share the exact location by the Deschutes River Trail and Drake Park.

Deschutes River Trail, near Drake Park 22 days ago

found G

Found DVDs in Bend, Oregon.

I was walking along Lava Avenue near the Tower Theatre in Bend around 3:15 p.m. on Saturday when I spotted a weathered blue DVD case leaning against a bike rack. A stack of DVDs spilled out, some with handwritten labels and a few with receipts tucked inside. It looked like someone had just finished a casual movie night in downtown Bend and forgot them as they hurried off. I know the feeling of losing something you care about, and I wanted to help. I’ve posted them here so the owner can reclaim them through the site.

near the Tower Theatre, downtown Bend 27 days ago

found P

Pink Nike swimsuit top found in Bend

I found a bright pink Nike swimsuit top this afternoon around 3:15pm, tucked under a bench along the Deschutes River Trail behind the Old Mill District. It's a women's size M, with the white Nike swoosh on the chest and a white seam along the bottom edge. The care tag reads 'Made in Vietnam' and there’s a small blue star sticker stuck to the inside label. The fabric looks clean and undamaged, just a bit sun-wrinkled from the ground; I figured someone might be missing it after a river swim. If you're the owner, we can meet near the Deschutes Public Library or at the Old Mill District to pick it up.

Bend about 1 month ago

found J

Found cameo jewelry at waterfront park near REI

Found small piece with cameo of a woman. Has a date? At waterfront park near REI. In the grass. April 8 lunchtime.

Bend 2 months ago

found A

Grey Patagonia fleece hoodie found near Old Mill District

Found a grey Patagonia fleece hoodie this afternoon around 3pm in the parking lot behind the Old Mill District, along the Deschutes River Trail. It's a size M, medium-weight fleece with an orange zipper and a small coffee stain near the left pocket. There’s a blue enamel pine-tree pin on the zipper pull that makes it easy to identify. It seems well cared for, and I figured someone might be looking for a reliable warm layer on Bend evenings.

Bend 2 months ago