lostandfound.io
Lost

Lost something on public transport?

How to track down an item left on a bus, train, tram, or taxi by contacting the right transport operator.

Items left on buses, trains, trams, and taxis around Southeast IA are usually handed in to the operator's lost property team — the trick is contacting the right one quickly.

  1. Identify the operator. Note the route, line, or company and the rough time. Each operator runs its own lost property process.
  2. Submit a lost property report. Use the operator's online form or phone line as soon as possible; recovered items are logged against your description.
  3. For taxis and rideshare, contact the driver or company directly through your booking or app receipt.
  4. Keep your reference. Save any report number so you can chase it up.
  5. Post a listing. Add a listing for Southeast IA in case a fellow passenger picked it up.

Check the local transport resources below for the operators serving Southeast IA.

Helpful resources for Southeast IA

Recent reports in Southeast IA

lost C

Lost Bus Tickets in Southeast IA

I lost my bus tickets this morning around 10:45 a.m. while I was rushing to catch a northbound bus at the downtown Ottumwa bus stop on Main Street. The tickets were for a trip to Chicago, tucked in a thin sleeve inside my backpack. I retraced my steps along the benches and vending machines, hoping they hadn't slipped into the cracks of the pavement. My trip hinges on those slips of paper, and the anxiety is eating at me as I keep thinking about what I’ll do if they don’t turn up.

Ottumwa downtown bus stop, Main Street 9 days ago
lost G

Lost tank accessories near Burlington downtown

I was wrapping up a late afternoon ride along the Burlington riverfront and sat down on Main Street near the old courthouse around 6:40 PM last Friday. I must have knocked the bag with my tank accessories loose while I checked a valve, and by the time I stood up, it was gone. I retraced steps along the brick sidewalks from the riverfront up to the pharmacy on Main, but I couldn't find them anywhere. These accessories are essential for my set-up, and losing them feels like a small disaster. I'm holding out hope someone picked them up and put them somewhere safe.

near the downtown Burlington courthouse 14 days ago
lost E

Lost carry-ons near Burlington Amtrak, Snake Alley.

Last Sunday, around 9:30 PM, I stepped out of a cab by the Burlington Amtrak station and left my two carry-ons on a curb while I checked a map. They are a black backpack and a gray rolling suitcase, both scuffed from travel, with a red ribbon tied to the backpack zipper. I grabbed the map and turned around, but a gust of wind and a passing crowd sent me searching in circles along the Amtrak platform and Snake Alley, along with the riverfront path. I felt foolish, but I hope someone picked them up and left them somewhere safe. They contain clothes and a charger I need for this trip.

near the Amtrak platform by Snake Alley, Burlington 18 days ago
lost G

Lost photographs on Main Street, Burlington

I lost my photographs yesterday at 5:30 p.m. on Main Street in downtown Burlington, near the Catfish Bend Casino, while I was shooting for a project along the riverfront. They aren’t just pictures; they’re a timeline of my family—old vacation snaps, school portraits, and a few prints from our farm years. I shuffled along the riverwalk, checked the benches, asked a couple of passersby, and retraced to where I had set my gear on the railing. The loss stings because those prints hold voices and places I can’t recreate. If someone happened to bring them to light, I’d be grateful.

Main Street, downtown Burlington, near Catfish Bend Casino about 2 months ago
lost C

Lost brooches in Southeast Iowa

On Saturday at 4:15 p.m., I realized my grandmother's silver brooches were missing somewhere in Southeast Iowa. I had been walking along Burlington's Snake Alley, returning from the riverfront Market on Jefferson Street, when I felt the velvet pouch slip out of my coat pocket. The sun was low on the courthouse tower and the air smelled like kettle corn from a nearby booth. These pieces aren’t just jewelry; they tie me to family stories and memories from summers at the old family home. If someone found them by Snake Alley or close to the riverfront, please hold onto them for a while—I’ll come back for them.

near Snake Alley, downtown Burlington 2 months ago
lost A

LOST: driver's license lost in downtown Burlington, IA

On a breezy Friday afternoon, around 2:30 PM, I was walking from the riverfront toward a friend's shop in downtown Burlington after a quick stop at a bakery on Jefferson Street. I must have misplaced my driver's license somewhere along Main Street, because when I checked my pocket it wasn't there anymore. I waited by a bench near the river, but a light rain started and I hurried back toward the parking lot. Realizing it was gone left me feeling anxious and exposed—without it I can't legally drive and I worry about identity misuse. The last place I clearly remember having it is near the downtown post office at Jefferson and Main Street, close to the riverfront seating area. Any help would mean a lot.

Jefferson St & Main St, downtown Burlington 2 months ago