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

Helpful resources for Mendocino County

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Mendocino County

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Found sports equipment near Glass Beach.

I was walking along the Fort Bragg waterfront near the Glass Beach parking lot on Sunday around 3:20 PM when I found a bag stuffed with Equipment for Various Sports. Inside was a green duffel, a basketball, several jerseys, a few cones, and even a lacrosse stick, plus water bottles stamped with a local league. It looked like someone’s weekend training pack had been left behind in the sea breeze while they grabbed a quick bite. I felt a wave of relief thinking about the person who might be worried, and I’m glad to help reunite them with their gear.

Glass Beach parking lot, Fort Bragg 13 days ago

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Found GPS devices in Mendocino County

I was walking along the Mendocino coast near Glass Beach in Fort Bragg around 6:15 p.m. last Friday when I spotted a small zippered pouch snagged on a driftwood log. Inside were several GPS devices with chargers and a loose car key fob. They look recently used and there aren’t obvious labels. I picked them up and kept them safe, hoping the owner will see this and claim them through the site. The coast can be unpredictable, and I want to help reunite someone with their gear.

Glass Beach parking area, Fort Bragg 20 days ago

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Found Student ID near Mendocino County campus

Friday around 4:30 p.m., I found a Student ID card lying on the sidewalk near Oceanview Market on Ukiah's Main Street in Mendocino County. The card shows a photo and a name that looked like 'Alex Kim' at a casual glance; I didn't pry and kept it safe. It can be panic-inducing to lose something official, and I felt a responsibility to help get it back where it belongs. If this ID is yours, please check the site and verify the details to reclaim it.

Sentimental

Main Street by Oceanview Market, Ukiah 23 days ago

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Found paperback mystery near Glass Beach parking

I found this navy blue paperback mystery novel this afternoon around 4:15 pm in the Glass Beach parking area behind Cypress Street along the Fort Bragg coastline in Mendocino County. It's a standard 6-by-9 inch paperback, about 320 pages, with a coffee ring on the back and slightly bent corners. The front cover features a lighthouse drawing and a small seashell sticker that sticks out a bit. Inside the front cover there's a pencil note reading 'For Jamie—enjoy!' I figured the owner is likely missing it, and I'd be happy to help reunite them with it.

Mendocino County 2 months ago

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Navy tuxedo jacket with satin lapels

I found a navy tuxedo jacket with satin lapels this afternoon around 2:15pm in the parking lot behind the Mendocino Hotel on Main Street. It's a Brooks Brothers, men's size 40R, in good condition with just a couple of light wear marks and a charcoal silk pocket square tucked into the breast pocket. Inside the left pocket there's a brass monogrammed keychain with the initials 'A.J.' and a label that reads 'Brooks Brothers 40R.' If this is yours, shoot me a message and we can sort out a quick pickup somewhere in Mendocino County.

Mendocino County 3 months ago

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Dark brown leather briefcase with initials L.R.

I found a dark brown leather briefcase this morning around 10am outside the Mendocino Hotel on Main Street in Mendocino, Mendocino County. It’s a sturdy mid-size case, about 15 inches wide with a brass clasp and a small scuff along the lower edge. The inside lining is a faded red fabric, and there’s a yellow post-it stuck to the lid with the initials 'L.R.' embossed on a leather tag. There’s a black USB drive and a receipt from a local bookstore dated last month tucked in the side pocket. I’m hoping to get it back to its owner soon—it looks like someone uses it for work and it probably holds important papers.

Mendocino County 3 months ago