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

Helpful resources for Clovis / Portales

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Clovis / Portales

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found: pendants in Clovis-Portales NM

Today around 2:30 PM, I found a pair of pendants on Portales Main Street near the Portales Public Library, in the Clovis-Portales area of New Mexico. One pendant is a delicate silver piece with a turquoise dot; the other is a small star charm on a thin chain. They were sitting on a bench by the bookstore window, partially tucked under a flyer rack, as the NM sun warmed the sidewalk. They seemed valuable to someone and I figured they should be returned to their rightful owner.

Portales Main Street by the Public Library 4 days ago

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Found sheet music near Portales Public Library

On Monday around 6:15 PM, I found a sheet music folder lying on the sidewalk near the Portales Public Library steps. The folder is blue, weathered, with a few dog-eared pages and pencil notes scribbled in the margins. It looks like someone was preparing for a small community recital, and I can picture their anxious relief at reclaiming it. I tucked it into my jacket pocket for the short walk home, hoping the owner sees this post and can claim it soon.

near Portales Public Library 11 days ago

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Sheets FOUND in Portales Walmart parking lot.

I found a sheets set this morning near the Portales Walmart entrance, around 7:45 a.m. It’s a queen-sized set, pale blue with a narrow white stripe, neatly folded with a small pull on one corner. I picked it up and kept it with me while I kept an eye out for a Lost and Found notice, but I didn’t see anything posted. It seems someone might have dropped it in the morning rush, and I’d really like to see it get back to its owner.

Portales Walmart entrance, near the east parking lot 12 days ago

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FOUND avians in Portales near Roosevelt Park

On Tuesday night, around 9:15 PM, I found a transport crate tucked behind a shop along Portales Main Street near Roosevelt Park. Inside were three small birds—Avians—chirping in confusion. The crate had a tag with a name on it, but I don’t want to pry or misinterpret, so I left it untouched near a lamp and brought it to a safe spot while I waited to see if someone would come back. Losing pets is scary, and I can only imagine the worry of a missing flock. If these birds belong to you, please know they’re safe and please check the site for information about claiming them.

Reward

Main Street near Roosevelt Park, Portales about 1 month ago

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FOUND adapters near Portales City Park

While strolling along West 2nd Street in Portales around 4:20 p.m. on Tuesday, I spotted a bunch of adapters lying on the sidewalk near Portales City Park. They looked like a mix of USB-C and micro-USB pieces, tangled with a couple of generic black cases. Not sure who they belong to, I picked them up and posted here so the owner might see this and grab them back. It felt right to help out, even with something as small as a bunch of adapters.

Portales City Park, West 2nd St about 2 months ago

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Found holiday decorations near Portales Library.

After a shift at ENMU-Portales, I walked down Main Street around 8:15 PM and found a bundle of holiday decorations leaning against the Portales City Library door. There were lights, tinsel, and a few ornaments tucked into a dusty tote, as if someone had rushed off in a hurry. They look ready for a porch display, not a store setup, and I imagine the owner’s scramble to get everything hung before friends arrive. If these belong to you, please respond to this listing so we can arrange a pickup through the site.

Portales City Library on Main St, Portales 2 months ago