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

Helpful resources for San Luis Obispo

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in San Luis Obispo

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Found: Guitars left near Mission Plaza

I was grabbing a late coffee around 6:05 p.m. last Tuesday, when I spotted two guitars left on the sidewalk outside a cafe on Higuera Street, near Mission Plaza in San Luis Obispo. One was a sunburst Fender-style electric guitar peeking out of a well-worn black gig bag; the other looked like a compact acoustic, its neck strap still looped over a chair. They looked recently dropped, not abandoned, with a little dust and a few busker stickers on the case. They seemed likely to belong to someone who’d just performed nearby. I’m posting here in hopes the owner can reclaim them through the site.

Near Mission Plaza, downtown SLO on Higuera Street 8 days ago

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found: Rabbits in San Luis Obispo

I found two rabbits wandering near Bubblegum Alley in downtown San Luis Obispo around 7:15 pm today. They didn't seem wild and allowed me to approach, so I gently guided them into a large tote for safety. They are a pair: one white with a small brown patch on the ear, the other mostly gray with a fluffy tail. They seem well cared for, not scared of people, and they let me check their collars (none). I’m sharing here to try to find their owner; in the meantime I’ve kept them secure and comfortable. If you recognize them, please use the site to get in touch.

Near Mission Plaza, downtown San Luis Obispo 15 days ago

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Found pins near Mission Plaza, San Luis Obispo

I was walking back from the Thursday farmers market at Mission Plaza around 11:10 a.m. on a sunny Sunday when I spotted a small pile of pins lying on the sidewalk, tangled together. They look like keepsakes—enamel pins with the California state flag, a tiny compass, and a pin shaped like a dog. It felt like a slice of someone’s story had surfaced for a moment, and I wanted to return them to their owner if possible. I’m posting here in hopes the original finder or owner will recognize them and reclaim what matters to them.

by Mission Plaza benches 27 days ago

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Found Foster Grant reading glasses with +2.00

Foster Grant reading glasses. +2.00 black frames. Found at Fillipponi Ranch Sunday 7-12-26.

San Luis Obispo about 1 month ago

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Found travel bags near Mission Plaza

I found these travel bags this morning at 9:15 a.m. by Mission Plaza in San Luis Obispo, left abandoned on a bench near the fountain. They’re medium-sized, gray nylon with a frayed strap and a red tag that reads 'Do Not Lose.' Inside there are clothes, a travel itinerary, and a spare set of underwear, nothing that identifies the owner right away, so I brought them here in case someone is missing them. I know how stressful it is to travel and forget bags, and I hope the owner sees this soon.

Sentimental

Mission Plaza fountain, San Luis Obispo about 2 months ago

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Blue plush dragon stuffed toy found near library

I found a blue plush dragon stuffed toy this afternoon around 3:20pm outside the San Luis Obispo Public Library on Palm Street, near the book drop by the entrance. It's about 12 inches tall, with soft royal blue fur, a bright yellow belly, and orange accents on the wings. There is a small stitched star on its paw and a tiny tear on the left ear, but otherwise it's clean and in good condition. It seems like it belongs to a kid who might have lost it while visiting the library or walking back from Mission Plaza Farmers Market. If this is yours, message me at [email protected] and we can arrange a safe pickup nearby.

San Luis Obispo 3 months ago