F.A.Q. · Ocean City MD
Reporting lost phones, wallets, and beach gear; Ocean City Police non-emergency contacts; and what to do before you panic.
Retrace your path with a friend, call the device if possible, and check with merchants you visited while the store is still open. Use Find My Device or similar from another phone before the battery dies. Report theft to Ocean City Police if you suspect it was taken from a table.
Sources: Town of Ocean City · Visit Ocean City
Use 911 for immediate danger, medical emergencies, and active crimes in progress. Use the Ocean City Police non-emergency line for lost property reports, noise complaints, and follow-ups that can wait. Save both numbers in your contacts before beach day.
Sources: Town of Ocean City
Cancel cards immediately, file a police report if theft is likely, and contact your bank for emergency cash. Photo ID helps bars and rentals—know your license number if you must prove identity while replacements ship. Check restaurant tabs where you last paid.
Sources: Town of Ocean City · Visit Ocean City
Beach Patrol focuses on swimmer safety—not lost sunglasses—but they may point you to Town lost-and-found processes when appropriate. Mark your towel spot with a visible landmark and avoid bringing irreplaceable jewelry into the surf. Morning sweeps sometimes surface left-behind gear.
Sources: Ocean City Beach Patrol · Town of Ocean City
Yes—housekeeping and security often collect phones, keys, and kids toys from hallways and pools. Describe the item with a case color or sticker kids recognize. Report fast on checkout day before the next guest cycle.
Sources: Visit Ocean City · Town of Ocean City
Do not leave wallets, phones, or keys unattended while everyone is in the water—beach theft spikes in dense summer rows. File a police report if the loss is a theft rather than misplacement. Consider a waterproof pouch for one person staying ashore.
Sources: Town of Ocean City · Ocean City Beach Patrol
Check the lot on foot before you assume they are gone—many keys slide under seats during beach loading. Contact your automaker or AAA for lockout service; locksmiths get busy on Saturday nights. Note your lot section when you park for easier retracing.
Sources: Visit Ocean City · Town of Ocean City
Agree on a fixed Boardwalk landmark and teach kids to find a uniformed officer or Beach Patrol member if separated. Photo your child in today’s outfit for a quick description. Write your phone number on a wristband for toddlers.
Sources: Town of Ocean City · Ocean City Beach Patrol · Visit Ocean City
Many merchants hold items until closing, then follow internal policies—ask the same night, not days later. Name the register where you paid if you left a card case nearby. Peak crowds make same-day claims much easier.
Sources: Visit Ocean City · Town of Ocean City
Photo serial numbers on cameras, tablets, and bikes and enable device tracking—police reports benefit from specifics. Email the list to yourself so a lost phone does not take the only copy. Insurance claims may ask for proof of ownership.
Sources: Town of Ocean City · Visit Ocean City
Turn found wallets, phones, and IDs to a nearby business manager, Beach Patrol supervisor, or police according to posted guidance—do not pocket someone else’s vacation. Good-faith turn-ins help families get home with their cards. Ask the merchant to log the time you dropped it off.
Sources: Town of Ocean City · Ocean City Beach Patrol
Recurring late-night noise in rental buildings is a common non-emergency call during Senior Week and busy summer weekends. Know your building address and unit if possible. Emergencies involving fights or weapons belong on 911.
Sources: Town of Ocean City
Call the rental shop immediately—contracts often require prompt reporting. File a police report if theft is likely so deposit disputes are clearer. Lock rentals when ordinances require it and photo the assigned number at pickup.
Sources: Town of Ocean City · Visit Ocean City
Insurers often want a report number for stolen phones, bikes, or luggage taken from a vehicle. Ask Ocean City Police how to file for property crimes that are not emergencies. Keep a copy of the report reference email.
Sources: Town of Ocean City · Visit Ocean City
Assateague Island falls under National Park Service / state jurisdictions—not Ocean City municipal police—for many incidents on the island. Know which park you visited and save park ranger contacts for lost gear there. Ocean City lodging hosts can still help you call the right agency.
Sources: National Park Service — Assateague · Town of Ocean City · Visit Ocean City
Designate one adult as the “wallet phone” holder before each Boardwalk push, use crossbody bags, and never leave valuables visible in parked cars. Snap a parking-lot photo after you lock up. Most losses are preventable with a boring routine everyone agrees to.
Sources: Town of Ocean City · Visit Ocean City
