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

Helpful resources for Santa Maria

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Santa Maria

found J

Found Puppies near Santa Maria Riverfront Park

I was strolling with my dog along the Santa Maria Riverfront Park at 6:45 p.m. last Friday when a tiny litter of puppies darted from behind a bench. They were scrappy but sweet, about the size of a loaf of bread, one with a blue collar and another with a pink ribbon. I wrapped them in my jacket to keep them warm and kept them by my side while I checked nearby benches and asked a few passersby if they knew who they belonged to. No one claimed them, and I couldn't find a microchip, so I brought them to the site, hoping their family sees this and comes forward.

near Santa Maria Public Library 10 days ago

found G

Found Student ID near Santa Maria Public Library

I was leaving the Santa Maria Public Library around 9:15 p.m. on Tuesday, February 28, when I found a Student ID on the sidewalk near the library's main entrance. The card bears a photo and a name, along with a school logo I recognize—but I won't spell out the name here. I tucked it into my coat pocket and kept it safe, hoping the rightful owner would see this listing and recover it soon.

Outside Santa Maria Public Library 18 days ago

found M

Found travel visas near Santa Maria Public Library

Found travel visas on the sidewalk outside the Santa Maria Public Library on South Broadway at 9:30 AM today. The folder is a little worn, with pages fluttering in the breeze and a few notes in the margins. I know how stressful travel can be, and I felt a rush of responsibility to keep them safe until the rightful owner recognizes them here. I’ve left them in a secure spot near the library desk so they don’t get lost again.

near Santa Maria Public Library on S Broadway about 1 month ago

found P

Sunflower ceramic vase found near Santa Maria library

I found this sunflower ceramic vase this afternoon around 4:15 pm behind the Santa Maria Public Library, near the parking lot off S Broadway. It’s about 7 inches tall with a cream glaze and hand-painted sunflowers in bright yellow. The glaze is glossy with a subtle crackle finish, and there’s a small chip on the rim that I could feel when I picked it up. On the bottom there’s a pencil inscription that reads 'S. Rivera 2019,' so it might be a personal piece. It seems well-made and has a nice charm, and I’d love to help reunite it with its owner—if you can describe the inscription or the chip, I’ll arrange the return.

Santa Maria 4 months ago

found P

Keys on blue lanyard with paw charm

Found a set of keys this afternoon around 3:15pm in the parking lot behind the Santa Maria Public Library on S Broadway. They're on a bright blue nylon lanyard with a small silver dog-shaped charm and a couple of worn keys; one key head is dented and there's a red heart sticker with the initial 'J' on a brass key. The lanyard is in good condition and the keys rattle when I shake them. If these belong to you, DM me here and tell me the distinguishing details so we can reunite them with their owner.

Santa Maria 4 months ago

found A

Found gray dwarf hamster near Santa Maria Library

I found a small gray dwarf hamster this afternoon outside the Santa Maria Public Library on S. McClelland St. It’s a fluffy little guy, about the size of a peanut butter jar lid, with soft gray fur, a white belly, and a tiny white patch behind the left ear plus a pink nose. No collar or chip I can see. He seemed a bit hungry and a little scared, but he warmed up to a seed I offered. He’s safe with me in a small ventilated crate, and I’m hoping to reunite him with his owner soon—if this is your hamster, DM me here and we can arrange a meetup near the library.

Santa Maria 5 months ago