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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Tank accessories found in the Bay Area

I was in the Bay Area, near the Ferry Building, around 8:15 p.m. on Tuesday, when I found a plastic tote tucked behind a bench under the lamps. Inside were tank accessories—extra tracks, decals, and a small turret ring for an RC tank. They looked well cared for and not mine, so I left them where I could reach them, but I hoped someone would miss them soon. If the owner sees this, I hope you’ll know I did my best to keep them safe and bring them back to you.

Ferry Building, Embarcadero 5 days ago

found E

Found document holders in the SF Bay Area.

I was heading to the Ferry Building Marketplace in the San Francisco Bay Area around 9:15 a.m. today when I spotted a leather document holder sitting on a bench near the Embarcadero entrance. Inside were several folders with travel receipts, a laminated ID card, and a handful of papers. They looked important, and I hoped the owner would see this listing and reclaim them through the site. Outside the Ferry Building, Embarcadero, feels like a place where someone will recognize them soon.

outside the Ferry Building, Embarcadero 14 days ago

found I

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 16 days ago

found I

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 19 days ago

found E

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 25 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 about 1 month ago