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

Helpful resources for Monterey Bay

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Monterey Bay

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Found sheet music near Fisherman's Wharf.

I was strolling along the Monterey Bay shoreline around 3:15 PM this past Sunday when I spotted a loose bundle of sheet music on a bench near Fisherman's Wharf. The cover is a worn blue with doodles and a few pencil annotations in the corner. A page is marked with "Recital Prep" and a date from a local music studio, so it clearly wasn't mine. The pages flutter in the sea breeze, and the handwriting looks heartfelt, as if the owner practices here after school. I tucked it away in my bag and posted this in the hope the owner will recognize the notes and claim them soon.

near Fisherman's Wharf, Monterey Bay 13 days ago

found P

Hand-painted ceramic vase with blue wave pattern

I found a hand-painted ceramic vase this afternoon around 1:45pm on Cannery Row, just outside the Monterey Bay Aquarium gift shop. It is about 10 inches tall, glossy white with a cobalt blue wave motif and a small gold leaf detail near the rim. There is a small chip on the rim and a faded signature on the bottom that reads 'M. Ito 2017'. It is in good condition overall, no cracks, and I picked it up because I thought someone might be worried about it. If you recognize it, please reach out—I would love to reunite it with its owner.

Monterey Bay about 1 month ago

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Found black leather tote near Cannery Row

I found a black leather tote this afternoon around 4:15pm on Cannery Row, right outside the Monterey Bay Aquarium gift shop. It's a compact tote, about 12 inches wide and 9 inches tall, with a gold zipper and a red interior lining that keeps the stuff easy to spot. The strap is adjustable, and there's a small enamel seahorse pin on the zipper pull plus a tiny initials tag reading 'KP' on the inside pocket. Bag is in decent shape, only a couple scuffs. If someone recognizes it, I’d like to help get it back to you.

Monterey Bay about 1 month ago

found A

Leopard gecko with orange spots found near Cannery Row

I found a leopard gecko this afternoon around 2:15 pm, hiding under a bench along Cannery Row near the Monterey Bay Aquarium. It’s about 4 inches long from snout to tail, with a sandy-yellow body and bright orange spots, and a chunky, healthy tail. There’s a small blue crescent-shaped mark on its left flank and a tiny white scar near the base of the tail—two easy identifying features. I didn’t see any microchip, and it seems a bit stressed but otherwise in good shape. If this belongs to someone, I’d love to help reunite you—this little guy deserves a warm home.

Monterey Bay about 2 months ago

found P

Black leather briefcase with blue interior

Found a black leather briefcase this afternoon around 4:15pm in the parking lot behind the Monterey Bay Aquarium on Cannery Row. It's a medium-sized case with a brass zipper and a small scuff on the bottom corner. Inside is a blue microfiber laptop sleeve, a red heart-shaped keychain clipped to the zipper pull, and a few receipts along with a well-worn notebook. There's an initials badge 'AJ' on the inside pocket and a tiny Monterey Tourism badge tucked in another pocket. I’d love to get this back to its owner since it clearly holds important stuff from work or travel. If this sounds like yours, reach out and we’ll arrange a safe handoff nearby.

Monterey Bay 3 months ago

found P

Navy blue Samsonite suitcase with red tag

I found a navy blue Samsonite 28-inch spinner this afternoon around 3:15pm near the Cannery Row parking lot behind the Monterey Bay Aquarium. It's in decent shape with a few scuffs on the shell and a small dent on the top edge, but the wheels roll and the zipper works. The luggage tag attached is bright red with the initials 'L.G.' and there’s a faded palm-tree sticker on one side. I’m hoping to reunite it with its owner, since travel gear like this probably holds a lot of memories. If this sounds like yours in the Suitcases & Luggage category for Monterey Bay, reply here so we can coordinate.

Monterey Bay 4 months ago