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

Helpful resources for San Diego

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in San Diego

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Pins found in San Diego

At 6:42 PM on Sunday, I found a small set of pins on a bench outside Seaport Village in San Diego. They’re bright and varied—one is a tiny wave pin, another a little sailor, and there’s a chunky enamel badge that looks special. I can imagine how worried the owner might be, and it felt good to think I could help reunite them with something meaningful. I’ll keep them safe and posted here in the hope the rightful owner sees this listing.

Seaport Village, near the waterfront 5 days ago

found D

Found sheet music in San Diego

I was strolling along Harbor Drive near Seaport Village on a sunny afternoon around 4:10 p.m. last Tuesday when I spotted a folder of sheet music lying open on a bench. The pages are a bit damp from the sea breeze and a coffee stain marks the corner of page 3. The music is a mix of violin and piano pieces, with a handwritten cover title in pencil. It felt like a little thread of someone’s day, so I picked it up and kept it safe while hoping the owner sees this.

Seaport Village, Harbor Drive 21 days ago

found A

Mint vintage stamp album with red leather cover

I found a mint vintage stamp album this afternoon around 2:15pm outside the San Diego Central Library near the Park Blvd entrance. It has a deep red leather cover and clear plastic sleeves, with stamps dating from the 1930s to the 1950s peeking through. The outer corner is a little worn, and there's a small pencil note inside that reads 'For the collector with a slow day'—clearly a serious hobby item. If the owner sees this, I’d love to reunite it with you; it clearly means a lot to someone who cares about philately.

San Diego about 2 months ago

found P

Silver bracelet with turquoise turtle charm found near Seaport Village

I found a silver Nova Lane bracelet this afternoon around 4:15pm by the Seaport Village fountain along Harbor Drive in San Diego. It's about 7 inches long with a slim curb chain and a tiny turquoise enamel turtle charm on the clasp. The metal has a few light scratches and the clasp shows a tiny nick, but it's otherwise in good condition. I know it could mean a lot to someone and I'd love to help reunite it with its owner.

San Diego about 2 months ago

found M

Found Lonely Planet guide near Central Library

I found a travel guide this afternoon around 3:15 PM outside the San Diego Central Library on Park Boulevard. It's a pocket-sized Lonely Planet Mexico & Central America paperback, blue-and-white cover, with a blue ribbon bookmark that has a tiny compass charm attached. The spine is creased and there’s a light coffee stain along the back cover, plus a couple of pages dog-eared with a rough travel itinerary. It looks well-used but still in good shape, and I figured someone might be missing it and could use it for their trip. If it matches, I’m happy to return it to the owner.

San Diego about 2 months ago

found D

Silver pocket watch with initials J.R.

Found a silver pocket watch this afternoon around 2:15pm in the Gaslamp Quarter, Market Street near Fifth Avenue, just outside a vintage shop. It's an open-face watch about 4.5 cm in diameter, with a sunburst pattern on the cover and the initials J.R. engraved inside the back, plus a short tarnished silver chain. The glass has a tiny chip on the edge, but the watch still ticks when you shake it. I know this is probably someone’s cherished heirloom, and I’d love to get it back—if this sounds like yours, share a detail like the engraving or the chain with me.

San Diego 3 months ago