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

Helpful resources for Clovis / Portales

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Clovis / Portales

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FOUND avians in Portales near Roosevelt Park

On Tuesday night, around 9:15 PM, I found a transport crate tucked behind a shop along Portales Main Street near Roosevelt Park. Inside were three small birds—Avians—chirping in confusion. The crate had a tag with a name on it, but I don’t want to pry or misinterpret, so I left it untouched near a lamp and brought it to a safe spot while I waited to see if someone would come back. Losing pets is scary, and I can only imagine the worry of a missing flock. If these birds belong to you, please know they’re safe and please check the site for information about claiming them.

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Main Street near Roosevelt Park, Portales 3 days ago

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FOUND adapters near Portales City Park

While strolling along West 2nd Street in Portales around 4:20 p.m. on Tuesday, I spotted a bunch of adapters lying on the sidewalk near Portales City Park. They looked like a mix of USB-C and micro-USB pieces, tangled with a couple of generic black cases. Not sure who they belong to, I picked them up and posted here so the owner might see this and grab them back. It felt right to help out, even with something as small as a bunch of adapters.

Portales City Park, West 2nd St 15 days ago

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Found holiday decorations near Portales Library.

After a shift at ENMU-Portales, I walked down Main Street around 8:15 PM and found a bundle of holiday decorations leaning against the Portales City Library door. There were lights, tinsel, and a few ornaments tucked into a dusty tote, as if someone had rushed off in a hurry. They look ready for a porch display, not a store setup, and I imagine the owner’s scramble to get everything hung before friends arrive. If these belong to you, please respond to this listing so we can arrange a pickup through the site.

Portales City Library on Main St, Portales about 1 month ago

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Found brooches in Clovis, NM

Hi, I’m Olivia Chavez. I found these brooches this morning around 11:30 a.m. on Main Street in Clovis, just outside the Old Town Square near the Norman Petty Recording Studios sign. They look like a coordinated little collection—a gold leaf, a blue glass stone, and a tiny silver star-pin. Whoever wore them clearly valued them, and I’m hoping the owner will see this and claim them.

Main Street, near Old Town Square, Clovis about 2 months ago

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Found USB flash drive with orange sticker

I found a USB flash drive this afternoon around 1:30pm in the parking lot behind the Portales Public Library on West 2nd Street. It's a small black USB drive with a bright orange circular sticker on the cap featuring a simple white star. The drive is labeled on the back with the initials 'CB' and reads 32GB, and it looks like it was used recently. It seems like it could belong to someone who values their digital files, so I'm hoping to reunite it with its owner.

Clovis / Portales 3 months ago

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Rose gold ring with blue stone found near Walmart

I found a rose-gold ring with a small blue sapphire in the parking lot behind the Walmart on Main Street in Clovis this morning around 10:45am. It’s a women’s size 7 with a slim, polished band and a slightly raised bezel setting that catches the light. Inside the band there’s an engraving that reads 'A.S. 04/22,' plus a tiny chip on the inner edge that I can feel if you run your finger along it. The ring is in good overall condition, just wear from daily use. If this sounds like yours, message me and we can compare the engraving to confirm, and I’ll arrange a safe hand-off nearby.

Clovis / Portales 3 months ago