How do I unlock an iPod Touch I don't have the pass-code to?

To cut a long story short, my friend’s roommate up and abandoned her, and left all his shit in the apt.

When we finally got a hold of him, he sent a check for the last months rent, and in regards to his things said “keep it or chuck it, i don’t give a f**ck”.

In the mess was an iPod Touch, we can’t get a hold of him for the pass-code.

Is there a way to bypass that, change it, ect.