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 Francisco Bay Area? 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 Francisco Bay Area; 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 Francisco Bay Area with enough detail for the real owner to identify it — while holding back one verifying detail.

Helpful resources for San Francisco Bay Area

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in San Francisco Bay Area

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Found kittens near Golden Gate Park, SF Bay Area.

Yesterday afternoon, around 4:30 PM, I found two gray-and-white kittens beneath a bench near the Ferry Building in the SF Bay Area. They were peeking out from under a light rain jacket and rubbing against my sneaker. I wrapped them in a jacket and carried them to a sheltered spot while I posted here, hoping their human is looking for them. They seem healthy and curious, and I’m keeping an eye on them near Golden Gate Park and the waterfront until someone claims them.

Near the Ferry Building, Embarcadero about 23 hours ago

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Found paintings in the Mission District courtyard

I found these paintings outside my apartment in the San Francisco Bay Area, in the Mission District. Last Friday at 4:30 PM, I spotted them leaning against a planter in the courtyard behind a cafe on Valencia Street, near 21st Street. The set includes three landscapes in weathered frames and one bold abstract piece; they look cared for and have a faint smell of old varnish. They must belong to someone who loves this corner of the city as much as I do. I have set them aside to keep them safe here until the owner steps forward.

Valencia St courtyard behind the cafe 4 days ago

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Found vintage stamps near Ferry Building, San Francisco.

I was walking along the Embarcadero in San Francisco, California, at 1:25 PM on Saturday when I spotted a small envelope tucked beneath a bench near the Ferry Building. Inside were vintage stamps, neatly arranged in tiny sheets, some with faded postmarks. They looked like they carried a story, perhaps a longtime hobbyist's collection. I turned them in here, hoping the rightful owner notices them soon.

near Ferry Building, Embarcadero 10 days ago

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Found bracelet on Clayton between Grove and Hayes

I found a bracelet on Clayton between Grove and Hayes. Describe it accurately, and I'll make sure to reunite it with you.

San Francisco Bay Area 21 days ago

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Found: Microwaves in SF Bay Area

Hi, I'm Maya Chen. I found two microwaves outside a building on Market Street near Embarcadero Plaza in the San Francisco Bay Area around 4:20 p.m. today. One is white and the other is stainless; both are a bit dented but otherwise clean. They were sitting by a loading dock beside a catering truck, as if dropped during an event break. I figured someone would be missing them, so I brought them here and I hope the owner sees this message through the site.

Market Street near Embarcadero Plaza about 1 month ago

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FOUND memory cards in SF Bay Area

On a breezy morning, around 10:30 AM, I found a small pouch with memory cards on a bench near the Ferry Building Marketplace in the San Francisco Bay Area. The pouch looked casual, and the cards are clearly used—some labeled with dates and folders, others with project names. I didn’t search through the data beyond a quick glance, and I’ve kept everything safe and untouched. I know how easy it is to misplace important data, and I hope this helps the rightful owner recover their memories. If these memory cards belong to you, please check the site for next steps.

Bench by the Ferry Building Marketplace, San Francisco about 1 month ago