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

Helpful resources for Modesto

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Modesto

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Found two toasters near Graceada Park, Modesto

Yesterday afternoon around 4:30, I found two toasters sitting on a bench outside Graceada Park, near the 7th Street entrance in Modesto. They were dusty and mismatched—one chrome with a dented knob, the other white with a red lever—clearly not items you expect to find just lying around. It felt odd, like a quiet reminder that someone’s morning routine got interrupted, maybe after a move or a garage sale. I’m posting this here in case they belong to someone who’s been searching for them. If it’s yours, please reach out via the site so we can arrange a proper handoff.

Graceada Park entrance, 7th Street, Modesto 14 days ago

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Black Nike hoodie with white swoosh, found near Target

I found a black Nike hoodie this afternoon around 2:15pm outside the Target on McHenry Avenue in Modesto. It's a men's size L, fleece-lined, in pretty good shape with a crisp white Nike swoosh on the chest. There’s a small green thread loop near the zipper and a tiny scratch on the left sleeve—easy to spot if you know it. It looked like someone ducked in for a quick shop and left it behind, so I’m hoping to help the owner get it back. If this is yours, I’m happy to meet near the Target entrance to hand it over.

Modesto about 1 month ago

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Set of keys with blue lanyard

Found a set of keys this morning around 7:45am in the parking lot behind the Target on McHenry Avenue in Modesto. They’re on a metal ring with a cracked red plastic tag and a bright blue fabric lanyard, plus a small blue USB drive clipped to the ring. The set includes a silver Ford key with a worn tip and a black house key stamped with 'No. 19'. I didn’t touch any of the locks or the door keys, just picked them up from the pavement near the bike racks. If these are yours, tell me something distinctive about the ring or the keys and I’ll arrange a meetup within Modesto to return them.

Modesto about 1 month ago

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Found concert ticket stub near Gallo Center

I found a concert ticket stub this afternoon around 3:15pm outside the main entrance of the Gallo Center for the Arts on I Street in downtown Modesto. The ticket is a white paper stub with a purple border for a show, likely printed with Section 210, Row A, Seat 12, and the barcode area is punched. It’s a little crumpled but legible, and there’s a small pink sticker with the initials 'JS' on the back—nice identifying feature. I picked it up thinking someone might be missing it and I’d love to get it back to its owner. If this ticket is yours, send me a DM here with the event name and your seat details and we’ll figure it out.

Modesto about 2 months ago

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Black 128GB USB-C drive with blue star sticker

I found a black 128GB USB-C flash drive this afternoon around 3:15 pm in the parking lot behind the Vintage Faire Mall on Dale Road in Modesto. It's a compact matte-black stick with a blue star sticker on the front and a small scratch across a label that reads 'Work' in blue ink. It powers up when plugged in and seems to contain generic work files, nothing identifying on the surface. If you recognize it, email me at [email protected] with a detail only you would know about the drive, and we can arrange a meetup to return it near the mall security office.

Modesto 2 months ago

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Guinea pig with teal harness found near Vintage Faire Mall

I found a guinea pig this afternoon around 3:15pm in the parking lot behind the Vintage Faire Mall on Dale Road, Modesto. It’s a fluffy tan-and-white guinea pig wearing a teal harness with a tiny bell, and there’s a small white patch on its left flank. It looked a little scared but seems healthy, and I kept it safe in a cardboard pet carrier with a water bottle. I know how hard it is to lose a pet, so I’m hoping to help reunite this little guy with his people.

Modesto 3 months ago