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

Helpful resources for Humboldt County

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Humboldt County

found A

Black Ray-Ban style sunglasses; initials engraved on temple

I found a pair of black Ray-Ban style sunglasses this afternoon around 2:30pm behind the Carson Mansion in Old Town Eureka, Humboldt County. They’re in decent shape, black plastic frames with a medium fit, and the lenses have a small scratch near the left corner. There’s a tiny engraving 'AK' on the inside of the right temple that could help verify ownership. I picked them up because I figured someone might be looking for them and they looked recently worn but cared for. If these belong to you, DM me with the brand and the engraving, plus when you last wore them.

Humboldt County 29 days ago

found P

Navy blue travel neck pillow with JetSet logo

I found a navy blue travel neck pillow this morning around 11am in the parking lot behind the Samoa Cookhouse on Main Street in Samoa, Humboldt County. It's a standard travel size with a soft microfiber cover. There’s a small white JetSet logo on the side, plus a faint red coffee ring near the seam and a tiny red stitching heart on the inner edge. The fabric is a little pilled from use, but it’s still comfy and clearly loved by a traveler. If this belongs to you, I’d be glad to help reunite it with its owner.

Humboldt County about 1 month ago

found P

Blue ceramic mixing bowl with wooden spoon

I found a blue ceramic mixing bowl this afternoon around 2:15pm behind the Humboldt Co-op on 4th Street in Eureka. It's a 2-quart bowl with a glossy glaze and a tiny chip along the rim that’s noticeable up close. The wooden spoon that came with it is a little worn and has a coffee stain near the handle. On the bottom there’s a faded sticker that reads 'M.S. Nguyen,' which is a pretty distinct identifying mark. If this belongs to you, I’d love to help get it back; we can meet up at the Co-op or arrange a pickup to make it easy to claim.

Humboldt County about 2 months ago

found P

Blue Nike swim shorts with orange trim found

I found a pair of blue Nike swim shorts yesterday around 3pm on the Eureka Boardwalk in Humboldt County, near Fisherman’s Wharf. They’re men’s size L, navy with bright orange piping and a white drawstring; the Nike swoosh is on the left leg and there’s a small yellow silicone fish keychain clipped to the loop. They’re in good used condition, just a little salty from the bay air. If you think these might be yours, I’m hoping to help reunite you—we can meet up somewhere in Old Town Eureka.

Humboldt County 3 months ago

found P

Found DeWalt cordless drill in yellow case

I found a cordless drill yesterday around 3pm in the parking lot behind the Safeway on Broadway in Eureka. It's a yellow-and-black DeWalt 20V drill, with a slightly scuffed rubber grip and a blue painter's tape label with the initials 'JD' on the handle. The battery looks like a 1.5Ah pack that still holds a decent charge, and the black case has a dent in the corner where it bumped the curb. If the owner recognizes these details, I'd love to get it back to them—it's clearly someone's work tool and would be nice to reunite with its owner.

Humboldt County 4 months ago

found P

Blue hardcover novel found near Bayshore Mall, Eureka

Found a blue hardcover novel this afternoon around 2:45pm outside the Bayshore Mall in Eureka, right near the transit center behind the big red sculpture. The cover is a deep royal blue with gold lettering along the spine and a small embossed moon on the front. Inside, there’s a purple tassel bookmark and a pressed flower tucked between pages, plus a library barcode sticker on the back cover. The title reads 'The Night Circus' by Erin Morgenstern, so it should be easy to spot on a shelf. If you know this book belongs to you, DM me here so we can arrange pickup nearby in Humboldt County.

Humboldt County 4 months ago