Documented Protocol · CRS 38-12-126 Compliant · Timestamped

Sensitive Items Found During Denver Eviction Cleanout — Our Documented Protocol

Passports, family photos, cremains, jewelry, medications, legal documents — our crew finds them all. Here is exactly what happens to every sensitive item we discover during your eviction cleanout.

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✓ Photograph & Document

✓ Bag & Tag Protocol

✓ Landlord Decision Log

Quick Answer

When our crew finds sensitive personal items during a Denver eviction cleanout, we photograph everything in place, bag and tag each item separately with a timestamped label, and set them aside for the landlord’s decision. Under Colorado’s abandoned property statute (CRS 38-12-126), landlords must store certain tenant property for a statutory period before disposal. We handle the documentation that protects you from tenant claims. Call (303) 324-6014 for eviction cleanout coordination.

Why Sensitive Items Matter During Eviction Cleanouts

Every eviction cleanout uncovers personal items the tenant left behind. Most of it is trash — old food, broken furniture, clothing they didn’t want. But mixed into the debris, our crews regularly find items that carry legal, financial, or emotional significance.

Mishandling these items creates liability. A landlord who throws away a tenant’s passport, birth certificate, or family heirlooms can face claims for damages — even after a lawful eviction. Colorado law doesn’t care that the tenant was evicted; the abandoned property statute still applies.

Our protocol exists to protect you — the property manager or landlord. Every sensitive item is documented on timestamped photo and video before it’s touched, bagged separately, and logged. You get a complete record showing exactly what was found, where it was found, and what decision was made about each item.

Categories of Sensitive Items We Find

After hundreds of eviction cleanouts across the Denver metro, these are the categories of sensitive items our crews encounter most frequently. Each category has a specific handling protocol.

Identity Documents & Financial Records

What we find: Passports, driver’s licenses, Social Security cards, birth certificates, green cards, immigration paperwork, tax returns, W-2s, bank statements, credit card documents, loan paperwork, deeds, titles.

Why it matters: Identity documents are irreplaceable. Tax returns and financial records contain sensitive personal information that creates identity theft risk if disposed of improperly. Immigration documents may be the tenant’s only proof of legal status.

1.Photograph each document in place — do not open sealed envelopes

2.Place in labeled clear bag — date, unit number, description of contents

3.Deliver to landlord/PM separately — never mixed with disposal items

4.Landlord stores per CRS 38-12-126 — statutory period before disposal

Family Photos & Irreplaceable Memorabilia

What we find: Photo albums, framed family portraits, children’s artwork, baby books, wedding albums, military service records, medals, diplomas, yearbooks, religious items.

Why it matters: These items have no financial value but are irreplaceable. Courts have awarded damages when landlords destroyed items of sentimental value without following proper abandoned property procedures.

1.Photograph the collection — overview shots plus close-ups of notable items

2.Box separately — keep photo albums and fragile items protected

3.Label box with contents description and unit number

4.Deliver to landlord for statutory storage — recommend landlord attempt tenant contact

Medications & Controlled Substances

What we find: Prescription bottles (full and partial), insulin, inhalers, medical devices, syringes (diabetic use), over-the-counter medications, medical marijuana.

Why it matters: Prescription medications cannot be transferred between people. Controlled substances (Schedule II-V) have specific disposal requirements. Improper disposal of medications is both an environmental and legal issue.

1.Photograph all medications — label visible, showing patient name and prescriber

2.Bag separately by type — controlled substances isolated from OTC medications

3.Controlled substances to landlord — recommend disposal at pharmacy take-back or law enforcement drop-off

4.Needles/syringes — placed in sharps container (crew carries these), never loose in trash

Urns, Cremains & Human Remains

What we find: Cremation urns, bags of ashes (sometimes unlabeled), memorial boxes, funeral home documentation.

Why it matters: Cremated remains are legally considered the property of the next of kin. Destroying or discarding cremains can result in criminal charges and significant civil liability. This is the one item category where we always recommend the landlord make extraordinary effort to contact the former tenant.

1.Stop — do not move the urn or container until photographed in place

2.Photograph with context — location in unit, any identifying labels or plaques

3.Handle with care — wrap in protective material, never place in trash or disposal pile

4.Deliver directly to landlord — strongly recommend contacting tenant and/or funeral home

Jewelry & Valuables

What we find: Rings, necklaces, watches, loose gemstones, coin collections, gold/silver bullion, collectible items with obvious value (signed memorabilia, art).

Why it matters: Valuables left behind are the most common source of tenant lawsuits after eviction. “They stole my grandmother’s ring” is a claim that can cost thousands to defend — even if it’s fabricated. Documentation is your shield.

1.Photograph in place — show exactly where the item was found

2.Close-up photo of each item — capture any engravings, markings, or identifying features

3.Place in sealed, labeled bag — two crew members witness and sign the bag

4.Hand directly to landlord/PM on-site — never left in truck, never stored at our facility

Legal Documents & Court Papers

What we find: Court filings, custody agreements, restraining orders, probation paperwork, lease agreements, vehicle titles, insurance policies, wills, power of attorney documents.

Why it matters: Legal documents can be evidence in ongoing proceedings. Custody agreements and restraining orders have active legal force. Destroying these could interfere with judicial processes.

1.Photograph cover pages — capture case numbers and party names without reading contents

2.Keep in original order — do not sort, reorganize, or separate stapled documents

3.Place in labeled envelope or folder — deliver to landlord for statutory storage

Children’s Items

What we find: Car seats, cribs, strollers, children’s clothing, school records, immunization records, toys with obvious sentimental value (stuffed animals, blankets).

Why it matters: Children’s items left behind may indicate the tenant left quickly or under duress. School and medical records are protected information. Courts view the destruction of children’s belongings especially unfavorably.

1.Photograph and document — overview of children’s room or area

2.Set aside medical and school records — treat same as identity documents

3.Box sentimental items separately — blankets, stuffed animals, baby books

4.Deliver to landlord — recommend contacting tenant about children’s items specifically

Colorado Law: CRS 38-12-126 — Abandoned Tenant Property

Colorado’s abandoned property statute governs what happens to items left behind after an eviction. Here is what property managers and landlords need to know:

Written notice required. The landlord must provide written notice to the tenant that property has been left behind. The notice must describe the property and give a deadline for retrieval.
Minimum storage period. The landlord must store the property for at least 30 days after providing written notice (or 15 days if the lease specifies a shorter period and the tenant agreed to it).
Reasonable storage. Property must be stored in a way that prevents damage. Leaving boxes in the rain or an unsecured area doesn’t qualify.
After the statutory period. If the tenant doesn’t retrieve the property within the notice period, the landlord can dispose of it, sell it, or keep it.
Documentation protects you. Our timestamped photos and itemized logs prove what was found, when it was found, and how it was handled. This is your evidence if a tenant files a claim months later.

Our crew handles the documentation. Your attorney or property management company handles the notice requirements. We provide the evidence trail — they provide the legal compliance.

Our Documentation Package

Every eviction cleanout includes a documentation package at no extra charge. For units with sensitive items, the package includes:

Timestamped photos of every room before, during, and after cleanout
Individual photos of each sensitive item found — showing location and condition
Itemized log listing every sensitive item by category, description, and location found
Chain of custody record — who found it, who bagged it, who received it
Landlord decision log — signed acknowledgment of items received and disposition instructions
Video documentation for high-value or high-risk items (cremains, firearms, large jewelry collections)

This documentation package has protected our clients from dozens of tenant claims. When a former tenant says “they threw away my jewelry,” you have timestamped evidence showing exactly what was found and where it went.

Eviction Cleanout Pricing

Studio / 1BR

$495–$895

2-3 Bedroom

$895–$1,500

Full House

$1,500–$2,500

Sensitive item documentation is included at no extra charge in all eviction cleanouts.

Full eviction cleanout pricing breakdown here.

Sensitive Items During Eviction FAQ

What happens to personal items left behind after an eviction in Denver?

Under Colorado’s CRS 38-12-126, the landlord must provide written notice and store items for a statutory period (typically 30 days) before disposing of them. Our crew photographs and bags all sensitive items during the cleanout so the landlord has documentation and the items themselves for the required storage period. Standard trash and debris are removed immediately.

Does JSD keep any items found during eviction cleanouts?

Never. Every sensitive item found during a cleanout is documented, bagged, and handed directly to the landlord or property manager on-site. We do not store, keep, or transport tenant property to our facility. The chain of custody goes from unit to landlord — period.

What if I find items after JSD has finished the cleanout?

Occasionally items are hidden inside walls, in crawl spaces, or in areas we couldn’t access. If you find additional sensitive items after we’ve completed the cleanout, photograph them yourself with a timestamp and follow the same CRS 38-12-126 notice and storage requirements. If you need us back on-site, call (303) 324-6014.

Can I throw away a tenant’s items immediately after eviction?

No. Colorado law requires written notice and a storage period before disposal. Immediately throwing away tenant property — even after a lawful court-ordered eviction — exposes you to claims for damages. The eviction gives you possession of the unit, not ownership of the tenant’s property. Follow the statute.

What if cremated remains (ashes) are found during a cleanout?

Cremains are treated with the highest priority. We photograph the urn or container in place, wrap it in protective material, and hand it directly to the landlord. We strongly recommend the landlord make extraordinary effort to contact the former tenant — certified mail, last known phone, emergency contacts from the lease application. Disposing of cremains without attempting contact invites both legal and reputational risk.

Does sensitive item handling slow down the cleanout?

Minimally. Our crews are trained to identify and set aside sensitive items as they work — it’s part of the standard process, not an interruption. A typical unit with scattered personal documents and a few valuables adds 15-30 minutes to the cleanout. Units with extensive sensitive items (like a hoarding situation with documents throughout) may add an hour. Either way, it’s included in the price.

What if the tenant contacts me demanding their items back?

This is exactly why documentation matters. Show them the notice you sent (per CRS 38-12-126) and arrange a supervised retrieval if you still have the items within the statutory period. If the storage period has expired and items were disposed of, the documentation proves you followed the legal process. We recommend consulting your attorney for any tenant claims over $1,000 in alleged value.

Is there an extra fee for sensitive item documentation?

No. Timestamped photography, itemized logs, and sensitive item bagging are included in every eviction cleanout. This is standard procedure for our crews — not an add-on service. You receive the documentation package via email within 24 hours of the cleanout.

Every Item Documented. Every Decision Logged.

Protect yourself from tenant claims with our documented eviction cleanout protocol.

Call (303) 324-6014
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Licensed • Insured • CRS 38-12-126 Compliant • Denver Metro-Wide