Lost & Found Services in California

Anyone who takes charge of a found item becomes its legal custodian and must inform the owner if known, and return it without demanding a reward (only reasonable costs of care can be charged). If the owner is unknown and the item is worth $100 or more, the finder must hand it over to the local police or sheriff within a reasonable time.

Police and sheriff departments must notify the owner when their identity is reasonably ascertainable, and hold found property for at least 90 days. In general, the statute sets a minimum 90-day holding period, subject to the stated notice and disposal procedures. For items worth $250 or more, if no owner appears after 90 days, a notice is published in a local newspaper; seven days later, ownership can legally transfer to the finder, or the item is auctioned when it was found by a public employee on duty.

California treats pocketing a found item as theft when the finder had a reasonable way to identify the owner and made no effort to return it: petty theft up to $950 of value, grand theft above. This law is your ally: it motivates honest finders and businesses to turn items in.