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

Helpful resources for Santa Barbara

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Santa Barbara

found A

Found blue Nike swim trunks near East Beach

I found a pair of blue Nike swim trunks this afternoon around 2:15pm near the bike racks by East Beach in Santa Barbara. They're men's size M, navy blue with a white Nike swoosh on the left leg and orange piping along the sides. The fabric is clean and in good condition, just a bit sandy from the beach, with no rips or tears. There's a small inner zipper pocket on the right hip, which helps identify them. If this is yours, I’d love to help get them back—tell me a distinguishing detail like the lining color or any logos you remember.

Santa Barbara about 1 month ago

found P

Teak end table with brass drawer

I found a small mid-century teak end table with a single drawer. It’s about 20 inches square, with tapered legs and a brass handle on the drawer. The finish is warm honey teak with a couple of light scratches along the edges and a tiny water stain on top. I spotted it this afternoon around 4:15 pm outside Trader Joe’s on State Street in Santa Barbara. It seems to be in decent shape, just a little lived-in, and I figured someone might be missing a little piece of furniture after tidying up at home. If this is yours, reach out with a description of the drawer pull and the top stain, and I’ll hold onto it for you.

Santa Barbara about 2 months ago

found L

Found monogram ring near Tajiguas Beach

Found , monogram ring on side of 101 frwy …..at Tajiguas beach …..please call and describe Laurie …805-498-7770 Found today. May 1st approx 1 pm

Santa Barbara about 2 months ago

found P

Nintendo Switch OLED with neon controllers found downtown

I found a Nintendo Switch OLED model with neon red/blue controllers this afternoon around 2:30pm, sitting on a bench outside the Santa Barbara Central Library on East Anapamu Street. It’s in decent shape, the screen looks clean with a protective film intact, and the neon Joy-Cons still click nicely. It’s tucked in a blue silicone case and has a small pink heart sticker on the back, which makes it pretty easy to spot. There’s a faint scratch on the screen protector when the light hits just right. I’m posting this here to help the owner get it back; if you recognize these details, I’ll hand it over to you as soon as we can verify ownership.

Santa Barbara 2 months ago

found L

Navy hoodie with red logo found near Stearns Wharf

I found a navy North Face hoodie this afternoon around 2:15 pm outside the Stearns Wharf entrance by the Santa Barbara harbor. It's a men's size M, in decent used condition with a small coffee stain on the cuff and a bright orange interior lining. The red drawstrings and a tiny surfer pin on the zipper pull are unique identifying touches. This casual-wear piece has clearly been through a few beach days, and I know it could mean a lot to someone who lost it. If these details sound like yours, send me a message and we’ll figure out next steps.

Santa Barbara 2 months ago

found K

Found engagement ring on UCSB campus

Found Engagement ring on UCSB campus 4/13/26

Santa Barbara 2 months ago