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 Kennewick-Pasco-Richland? 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 Kennewick-Pasco-Richland; 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 Kennewick-Pasco-Richland with enough detail for the real owner to identify it — while holding back one verifying detail.

Helpful resources for Kennewick-Pasco-Richland

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Kennewick-Pasco-Richland

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Found travel visas on riverfront bench

Hi, I’m Mark Bennett. This evening around 6:10 p.m., while walking the Columbia Riverfront Trail near the Cable Bridge, I found travel visas tucked into a folder on a bench. They look official and belong to someone else who’s likely preparing for an international trip. I know how stressful it is to misplace important papers, and I’m leaving them here so the owner can reclaim them.

Sentimental

Columbia Riverfront Trail, Pasco side near the Cable Bridge 6 days ago

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Found a stack of DVDs near Columbia Center Mall.

I was walking from the parking lot toward the mall entrance around 8:15 p.m. Friday, near the food court at Columbia Center Mall in Kennewick. A pile of seven DVDs lay on the concrete, some in cases, others loose and dusty from rain. They looked loved, with worn edges and a few familiar titles visible. I picked them up and brought them to the mall’s customer service desk, hoping the owner would see this post and claim them. If these are yours, please check the site and claim your DVDs through the lost-and-found. I know how it feels to misplace something important.

Near the food court entrance, Columbia Center Mall 10 days ago

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Found photographs near Columbia Park, Tri-Cities.

I was walking along the river trail by the Columbia River in Kennewick around 3:15 pm last Saturday when a bundle of photographs poked out from beneath a bench at the Columbia Park picnic area. They’re a mix of candid family portraits, a graduation photo, and a snapshot of a kid in a soccer jersey. The edges are curled, and a few backs have pencil notes. It feels like someone’s memory left behind, and I wanted to help. I’ve kept them safe and posted this in hopes the rightful owner will see it.

near the Columbia Park bench by the river 15 days ago

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Bearded dragon found near PetSmart

I found a bearded dragon this afternoon around 3:15pm in the parking lot behind the PetSmart on Columbia Center Boulevard in Kennewick. It's about 8-9 inches long from snout to tail, tan with orange stripes along the back, and its eyes are bright green. It was wandering loose but seems calm, and I set it inside a temporary towel-lined tote with a small portable heat lamp to keep it warm. It has a small notch above the left nostril and a faint blue marbling along the tail—one or two unique features I noticed. If this is your pet, please message me and describe its enclosure and any identifying marks so we can get it home safely.

Kennewick-Pasco-Richland about 1 month ago

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Small white first-aid kit with red cross

Found a small white first-aid kit with a red cross on the lid this morning around 9:15, in the parking lot behind Walgreens on Clearwater Ave in Kennewick. It's about the size of a paperback, a bit dented, and bandages and alcohol wipes spilled when I picked it up. Inside there’s a laminated badge with the name 'Mia' and a tiny heart sticker—one unique identifying feature. It seems to be used for everyday stuff, not meds, so I figured someone might be missing it. If this belongs to you, I’m happy to return it.

Kennewick-Pasco-Richland about 1 month ago

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Silver-tone earrings with turquoise beads found near Columbia Center Mall

I found a pair of silver-tone earrings with turquoise beads this morning around 9:15am outside the main entrance of Columbia Center Mall on Columbia Center Boulevard in Kennewick. They’re small studs, in pretty good condition, with a delicate turquoise bead hanging from each. One earring has a tiny star charm near the post, and the back of the other is engraved with an 'S'. They’re unique enough that the owner will likely recognize them. I’m hoping to reunite them with their owner; if this sounds like yours, feel free to reach out here and we can arrange a quick meet-up at the mall information desk.

Kennewick-Pasco-Richland about 2 months ago