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

Helpful resources for Las Cruces

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Las Cruces

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Found item near Mesquite exit

Found on the mesquite exit

Las Cruces 5 days ago

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Found GPS devices in Downtown Las Cruces

Today I found someone else’s GPS devices during a morning walk in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Around 9:15 AM I spotted a rugged black case on the sidewalk near Main Street in downtown Las Cruces and picked it up to keep it safe until the owner can retrieve it. Inside are two GPS devices with chargers and a label I didn’t want to read aloud here. I’m posting this to help reunite the devices with their owner, hoping the rightful person sees this listing and recognizes the gear.

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Downtown Las Cruces, near Main Street fountain 9 days ago

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Found microwaves near Mesilla Valley Mall

I found several microwaves piled behind the Mesilla Valley Mall's loading dock along Main Street around 2:15 p.m. today in Las Cruces, New Mexico. They looked recently moved, with cords trailing and labels peeling from the sides. I spoke with a security guard briefly and asked if there's a lost-and-found log, but they suggested posting here as well. I hope the owners see this and claim their appliances soon; it felt strange to stumble onto them, like finding a small slice of someone else's life.

behind Mesilla Valley Mall loading dock 18 days ago

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Found: Chargers in downtown Las Cruces

I was out for a coffee run in downtown Las Cruces around 9:30 this morning when I saw a bundle of phone chargers sticking out from a small tote near the Plaza de Las Cruces fountain. A quick peek showed USB-C and micro-USB cables tangled with a couple of bricks, all in a black pouch. I picked them up and brought them here, thinking someone probably left them behind in a rush. It’s frustrating to lose these tiny cords, especially when you’re juggling bags and coffee. If these belong to you, this listing is here for you to see—hope the right person finds them soon.

near the fountain at Plaza de Las Cruces, downtown Las Cruces about 1 month ago

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Found cat: gray tabby with blue collar

Found a cat this afternoon around 2:15pm near the Las Cruces Public Library on Main Street. It's a medium-sized gray tabby with a white chest and paws, short fur, and bright green eyes. It wears a blue reflective collar with a tiny silver bell, and there’s a small scar above its left eye. It seemed a bit wary at first but warmed up after I spoke softly and let it sniff my hand. I’m keeping it safe nearby and would love to help reunite it with its owner—if this is your cat, drop me a message here and we can arrange a meetup in Las Cruces.

Las Cruces 2 months ago

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Brown Fossil bifold wallet, tan interior, coffee stain

I found this brown Fossil bifold wallet this afternoon around 3:15pm outside the Starbucks on Main Street near University Ave in Las Cruces. It's in decent shape, with a tan suede interior and a small coffee stain along the bottom edge. Inside there’s a driver's license under the name Margarita Lopez, a couple of credit cards, and a La Tienda loyalty card. There’s a tiny scratch on the Fossil logo embossed on the inner pocket. I really hope to get it back to its owner—if you think it’s yours, tell me the name on the license and the loyalty program name to confirm ownership.

Las Cruces 3 months ago