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

Helpful resources for Lake of the Ozarks

Nextdoor
Reach neighbors to return a found item

Recent reports in Lake of the Ozarks

found A

Calico dwarf hamster found near Osage Beach outlets

I found a tiny calico dwarf hamster this afternoon around 2:45 pm in the parking lot behind the Osage Beach Premium Outlets on Highway 54 in the Lake of the Ozarks area. The little guy is about the size of a ping-pong ball, with a tri-color coat of orange, white, and gray, and a bright pink nose. There’s a small white crescent on his right shoulder and a faint scar on his left hind leg that makes him easy to identify. He’s settled in a small pet carrier with bedding and a few sunflower seeds, and I’m keeping him cool and calm. I know someone is probably worried about him already, and I’d really like to help get him back home.

Lake of the Ozarks about 1 month ago

found A

Found missing person near Bagnell Dam overlook

Found a missing person yesterday around 3pm near the Bagnell Dam overlook along Highway 54 in Osage Beach, Lake of the Ozarks. He's about 6 feet tall with salt-and-pepper hair and a short beard, wearing a navy windbreaker, olive T-shirt, faded jeans, and a brown cap. He has a distinctive compass tattoo on his right forearm and a small scar above his left eyebrow, and he was clearly distressed, repeatedly asking for his sister. I stayed with him until deputies arrived to make sure he was safe, and the location is near the Bagnell Dam overlook off Osage Beach Road by the Lake of the Ozarks State Park entrance.

Lake of the Ozarks about 1 month ago

found A

Found action camera in black waterproof case

I found a compact action camera this afternoon around 3:15 pm near Harbor Marina on Bagnell Dam Boulevard in Osage Beach. It’s a black GoPro-style camera in a rugged waterproof case, with a lime-green floating grip and a blue carabiner clipped to the strap. There’s a small red logo on the front and a tiny nick on the lower edge of the case, which should help you identify it. If you think this is yours, reply with the camera model and one identifying detail—like the grip color or the nick—and we can arrange a pickup near Harbor Marina.

Lake of the Ozarks 4 months ago

found A

Green budgie with yellow head, found near Bagnell Dam overlook

I found a small budgie this afternoon around 3:15pm, perched on the railing outside the Osage Beach City Park along Bagnell Dam Blvd, by Lake of the Ozarks. It's about 6-7 inches from beak to tail, lime-green body with a yellow head, and a faint blue tint on the wings. There's a tiny white spot on the left wing that looks like a birthmark, and a red plastic leg band with the numbers 18K. The bird seemed healthy but a bit skittish. I’m hoping to reunite it with its owner or turn it over to a local rescue; if anyone recognizes this bird, please reply here so we can get it home.

Lake of the Ozarks 5 months ago

found A

Blue Penguin Classics paperback mystery novel

I found a blue Penguin Classics paperback mystery novel this morning around 9:30am in the parking lot behind Osage Beach Outlet Marketplace on Route 54. The cover is a bright blue with a small lighthouse illustration, and there’s a coffee ring on the back cover. Inside, page 142 is dog-eared and there’s a handwritten note in the margin: 'For Sam, birthday 2022.' The spine’s a little creased, but the rest of the book looks readable. If you’ve lost it, I’d really like to get it back to you—maybe you were reading along the Lake of the Ozarks lakeside trail near Grand Glaize Dock when you last had it.

Lake of the Ozarks 6 months ago

found J

Found black wireless earbuds charger case near the shore of Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri.

I found a black wireless earbuds charger case while walking along the shore near Lake of the Ozarks. It's in good condition and seemed to have been misplaced during someone's visit. I'm hoping to return it to its rightful owner.

Lake of the Ozarks Shore, Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, United States 7 months ago