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

Helpful resources for Imperial County

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Imperial County

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Found remote controls in Imperial County, CA.

I was tidying up after a community event at the Imperial Valley Mall in El Centro around 3:40 PM when a handful of remote controls tumbled out of a tote and landed near the food court. They were a mismatched bunch—one glossy black, one matte gray—sitting in a small pile with fresh batteries waiting to be replaced. I checked the nearby benches and the mall’s lost-and-found shelf, but nothing was posted there yet. I picked them up to keep them from getting kicked around and hoped the owner would see this listing and claim them.

Imperial Valley Mall, near the food court 4 days ago

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Found DVDs at Imperial Valley Mall parking lot

On Saturday around 5:42 PM, I was walking through the Imperial Valley Mall parking lot in El Centro when I spotted a small stack of DVDs tucked behind a bench near a planter. I picked them up and saw a mix of titles, from light comedies to action flicks, with a few cases a bit scuffed and one stained with a coffee ring. It felt like a small mystery, but also a reminder that someone out there is probably missing their movie night. I brought them home and posted them here, hoping the rightful owner will recognize the covers and claim them on this site.

near Imperial Valley Mall, El Centro 25 days ago

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Blue US passport in black leather holder found

Found a blue US passport this afternoon around 2:45pm in the parking lot behind the Walmart on Main Street in El Centro, Imperial County. The passport is in good condition, with a navy blue cover and gold lettering. It’s tucked inside a black leather passport holder with a faded gold eagle stamp on the front, and there’s a tiny hummingbird sticker tucked into the inside cover—that little detail stood out to me. I know this is important and I’d really like to get it back to its owner. If this is yours, send me a message here to arrange pickup.

Imperial County about 1 month ago

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Found two concert tickets near Imperial Valley Mall

Found a pair of printed concert tickets this afternoon around 4:15pm in the parking lot behind the Imperial Valley Mall on Imperial Avenue in El Centro. They’re for a local show by The Desert Suns and are white with a bright blue border; one ticket has a red VIP stamp in the upper-right corner. They look a bit crumpled from being on the ground, but the event date is visible and the barcode is intact. They’re clearly physical tickets, not digital, with perforated edges. Tickets can be sentimental or a gift, and I’d really like to see them back with the owner. If you know who they belong to, tell me how to reach you.

Imperial County about 2 months ago

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Found: small black Lab mix with blue collar

I found this dog this afternoon around 2:30pm in the parking lot behind the Imperial Valley Mall on Imperial Avenue in El Centro. It's a small black Labrador mix, about knee-high, with a blue nylon collar and a white patch on its chest. There's a round tag on the collar with the name 'Rex' and a phone number that I can't quite read from here, and the dog seemed friendly but a bit anxious. I'm hoping to reunite him with his owner—if you recognize him, message me here and we can arrange a safe meet-up near the mall's north entrance.

Imperial County 2 months ago

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Blue cycling helmet found near Imperial Valley Mall

I found a blue cycling helmet with a black visor this afternoon around 2:15 pm in the parking lot behind the Imperial Valley Mall on Holt Avenue, El Centro. It's a Bell helmet, size Medium, with white interior padding that shows a bit of sweat smell. There's a small scrape on the left side of the shell and a sticker on the back that reads 'Valley Cycling Club'. I figured someone riding around Imperial County might be missing it, so I posted here in case the owner recognizes the features. If this rings a bell, please reach out with distinguishing marks like the sticker or the size and where you ride most mornings.

Imperial County 3 months ago