How can I contact the owner of an iPhone with Activation Lock?

There is no way for you to find the owner with any information on the device. The owner does have the option of adding contact information on that screen when they report it as lost, but it is not unusual for them not to do that as it does leave them susceptible to being scammed.

It is true they can view the location of the device so they know exactly where it is at. For that reason, the best suggestion I can offer is leave it at a nearby lost and found or police station so they can go and pick it up. You don't want anyone knocking on your door looking for their iPhone.

The owner of the phone has the option to display his / her contact information on the iPhone.

If they have not done this, there is no way to know who the owner might be.

Maybe wait a few days, and if contact info does not appear not the phone, turn the phone in to the police.

The-Byrner wrote:

i found an iphone in the middle of the road while on a night out. the phone only got an activation lock when i got home, showing an email and that the owner can see the phones location. i’m not in business of stealing phones and want to know if it’s possible to contact the owner so i could get the phone back to them. the only detail of the owner the phone can provide me with is a censored email address so i can’t email them and say i have their phone.

If the owner chose not to display contact information, that is their right. It's good that you want to do the honest thing and return the phone – but there are those who might use such information for less noble ends. (Which is, without a doubt, one of the reasons why Activation Locked phones display only a partial Apple ID.)

If the phone was outside some place like a mall, nightclub, etc., where the owner might be likely to look for it, you could turn the phone in to them. Otherwise, turn it in to the police. Hopefully the owner will think to check a few such places, and hopefully if you turn the phone in, the owner will be reunited with their phone.