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

Helpful resources for Roswell / Carlsbad

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Roswell / Carlsbad

found P

Gray Nike running jacket with neon zipper

I found a gray Nike running jacket this afternoon around 4pm near the Roswell Mall on Main Street. It's a men's medium, water-resistant, with a neon lime zipper pull and a small coffee stain on the right sleeve cuff. Inside the pocket there's a white fabric tag with the initials 'AR' and a tiny frayed tag at the hem. It's in good condition overall, just needs a new home—really hope the owner sees this and picks it up. If this sounds like yours, we can arrange a safe meetup near the Roswell Community Center.

Roswell / Carlsbad about 1 month ago

found L

Gray Nike running shoes, size 9, neon laces

I found a pair of gray Nike running shoes this afternoon around 3:15pm behind the Roswell Plaza parking lot on Main Street, near the coffee shop. They're a men's size 9, gray with bright neon lime laces, white soles with a few scuffs. The left shoe has a small red ink initial 'A' on the insole, and the right shoe has a faint blue sticker near the heel—unique identifiers. They look fairly new otherwise. I'm in Roswell if you can claim them; reply to this post if they’re yours and we can arrange a meetup near the Roswell Library or at the Roswell Plaza kiosk to hand them back.

Roswell / Carlsbad 5 months ago

found A

Black wireless earbuds in blue charging case

I found a pair of wireless earbuds this afternoon around 3:40pm in the parking lot behind the Roswell Plaza on Main Street. They're black with a blue charging case that has a small white cactus sticker on the lid. One earbud has a tiny scratch near the tip, and the case shows light wear from daily use. If you're the owner, message me here so we can arrange a quick pickup near the Roswell Museum on Main Street.

Roswell / Carlsbad 6 months ago

found J

Found brown leather wallet with distinct pattern at Roswell Mall parking lot containing cards and cash.

I found a brown leather wallet today while walking through the parking lot of the Roswell Mall. It looks like it has some important cards and cash inside. There didn't seem to be a name inside, but it has a distinct pattern on the outside. I held onto it hoping to find its owner, so if this sounds like yours, please reach out!

Roswell Mall Parking Lot, Roswell, New Mexico, USA 7 months ago

found E

Found small black USB drive near Carlsbad Lake jogging path with work-related folders.

I found a small, black USB drive while jogging at Carlsbad Lake. It was along the path near the water. There's no label or identifying marks on it, but it seems to contain multiple folders with what looks like work-related documents. If you think it belongs to you, please reach out with details.

Carlsbad Lake Jogging Path, Carlsbad, New Mexico, USA 11 months ago

found J

Found black leather briefcase containing papers and a laptop near Roswell library sidewalk.

I found a black leather briefcase on the sidewalk near the Roswell library yesterday afternoon. It looks fairly new and is zipped up tight. I opened it a little to check for identification but didn't see any. There are a few papers and a laptop inside it. Hoping to return it to its owner as soon as possible.

Roswell Library, Roswell, New Mexico, United States about 1 year ago