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

found M

Found gym bags near Fisherman's Wharf

I was strolling along Cannery Row this afternoon around 5:15 pm when I spotted two gym bags tucked behind a bench near the Monterey Bay Aquarium. One bag is charcoal gray with a bright blue zipper and a small patch that says Monterey. The other holds a water bottle, a towel, and a pair of sneakers with a faded logo. I checked the interior for a name tag, but there wasn’t anything obvious—just a receipt from a local shop and a crumpled flyer. I moved the bags to a safe spot on the bench by the cafe, keeping them in view as the sun dipped toward the water. I hope the rightful owner sees this soon.

near Fisherman's Wharf, Monterey 2 days ago

found S

Found: desk organizers in Monterey Bay

On Friday at 6:45 p.m., I was walking off the Cannery Row boardwalk and spotted two little desk organizers tucked under a bench near the Monterey Bay Aquarium. They’re plastic with a couple of compartments and a few sticky notes stuck to the lid. They looked like something someone uses for an office setup or a small event, and it gave me a pang thinking a coworker must be freaking out about losing them. I kept them safe and posted here, hoping the rightful owner reads this soon and breathes a little easier.

Cannery Row, outside the Monterey Bay Aquarium. 5 days ago

found O

Found: Handheld and Console, Cannery Row

While walking along Cannery Row by the Monterey Bay Aquarium around 3:40 pm today, I spotted a handheld device and a small gaming console lying on the pavement near a bench. I picked them up and kept them together, hoping the owner would see this post. The devices look recently used and clearly important to someone; there’s a little scuff on the shell and a few stickers from happier days. I’ve kept them safe and untouched, hoping the owner will see this page and reclaim them.

Cannery Row near Monterey Bay Aquarium 10 days ago

found M

Found travel visas along Cannery Row, Monterey Bay

Hi, I’m Mia Carter. I found a stack of travel visas stuffed in a leather folder on a bench along Cannery Row near the Monterey Bay Aquarium around 11:15 this morning. The folder was wedged between two souvenir bags, and it clearly belonged to someone who’s about to start a big trip. I didn’t open anything more than to check that there wasn't a name visible, then I picked it up and brought it here so the owner could reclaim it. Please check the listings if you’re missing papers that could affect a journey, and I’ll keep it safe until the right person sees this post.

Sentimental

near the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row 16 days ago

found D

Found chairs near Fishermans Wharf Monterey Bay

Today around 5:30 PM I found a set of chairs leaning against a railing near Cannery Row by Fishermans Wharf in Monterey Bay. The chairs looked like they belonged to an outdoor gathering, with no name tag or marking I could spot. They were clean and sturdy, and I stood there thinking about someone who might be worried after the sunset. I left them where I found them so they would be easy to spot again.

Fishermans Wharf, Cannery Row 20 days ago

found J

Found USB-C Anker Power Supply

USB-C Anker Power Supply. Found near pico blanco Big Sur Area

Monterey Bay about 1 month ago