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

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Found medication on Eureka sidewalk

This morning around 9:15 am I found a bottle of medication on the sidewalk outside Old Town Eureka, near the Boardwalk at the corner of 2nd and G Streets. It’s a brown glass bottle with a blue cap and a white label, but the label is partly peeled. I know someone out there needs this back, and I kept it safe and out of sight while we figure out the owner. I’m hoping the rightful owner will see this listing and reach out through the site.

Old Town Eureka, near the Boardwalk 2 days ago

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Found Holiday Decorations in Humboldt County

Hi, I'm Sofia Patel. I found these holiday decorations this morning around 9:15 AM along the sidewalk by the Humboldt Bay waterfront near Old Town Eureka. It’s a tangled mix—twinkling multicolored lights, a glittery star, and a small ceramic Santa. I scanned the area and asked a few pedestrians, but no one claimed them and the crowd moved on before the sun got higher. They look like they belong to someone who loves the season, and I’d feel better knowing they’re back with their owner.

Old Town Eureka waterfront, near the gazebo 9 days ago

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FOUND: Sculptures in Humboldt County

I found these sculptures behind a vendor tent near Arcata Plaza around 6:45 PM on Friday. The pieces are metal, about two to three feet tall, with a rust-orange patina and glass accents that caught the streetlights. I was walking from the Redwood National and State Parks entrance toward the plaza when I spotted them tucked behind a crate at the edge of the sidewalk. They felt personal—like a small, private collection someone might miss after a pop-up show. I moved them to a sheltered bench nearby and waited a moment, hoping the owner would see this listing.

Sentimental

Near Arcata Plaza, Arcata 15 days ago

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Found violin near Arcata Plaza

I was wandering along the Eureka waterfront around 7:15 p.m. on Saturday when I spotted a violin case tucked behind a bench near the Arcata Plaza. The varnish looked a little dull from the mist, and the bow was still in its sleeve. I picked it up and checked inside, but there was no name. I'm posting here in case someone high and dry has lost a cherished instrument, and I hope to help reunite it with its owner.

Arcata Plaza, near the plaza steps 15 days ago

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Found flute near Arcata Plaza in Humboldt County

I was walking around Arcata Plaza last Saturday around 3:15 PM when I spotted a silver flute resting on a bench near the gazebo. The case was a touch scuffed, and the lip plate had faint initials carved into it, like J.S. I picked it up carefully, checked for any obvious personal notes, and carried it to the Humboldt County Library’s lost-and-found desk so it could be reunited with its owner. I’m posting this in hopes the rightful owner sees it and recognizes the markings and that worn case. It felt like a small, hopeful moment in a busy day.

Near the Arcata Plaza fountain about 1 month ago

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Found photographs near Arcata Plaza, Humboldt County.

I found these photographs on Thursday, around 4:15 PM, tucked beneath a bench at the Arcata Plaza in Humboldt County. They look like a personal collection—an old portrait, a seaside shot, and a map with handwritten notes. I sat with them for a moment, feeling a tug of curiosity and responsibility, like I was holding a window into someone’s memories. I kept them safe, not wanting them to blow away in the coastal breeze, and I hope the owner recognizes them and is glad they’re not lost anymore.

Sentimental

Arcata Plaza bench about 1 month ago