Lost and Found Auctions

[cindybubbles]

This thread reminded me of the auctions that the Toronto Transit Commission holds in order to get rid of all their unclaimed stuff.

Link here: http://www.policeauctionscanada.com/

Let me know if other companies and public transit authorities do this.

[EricKei]

To the best of my knowledge, yes, police departments do this from time to time in the US, as well, all over the country. Cars that have been impounded (especially if repo'd/seized for tax reasons) are a big part of it, too. With some auctions, they sell off individual items; with others, there will be a milk crate or something similar full of random stuff with a lattice of duct tape over it, so you can see what's in there, but not handle the items, until you actually win the auction.

[AccountingDrone]

To the best of my knowledge, yes, police departments do this from time to time in the US, as well, all over the country. Cars that have been impounded (especially if repo'd/seized for tax reasons) are a big part of it, too. With some auctions, they sell off individual items; with others, there will be a milk crate or something similar full of random stuff with a lattice of duct tape over it, so you can see what's in there, but not handle the items, until you actually win the auction.

We bought a Dodge Caravan [um, I think it was a 1984?] in about 1997 or 98 at a police auction. Then we took it to base and arranged to have the drug dogs run through it. It was supposedly abandoned after being towed but we were not going to take any chances! Great minivan in the classic Caravan Mom Maroon. Ran well, was actually in very good condition despite the age. Unfortunately Rob got pushed off the road by some stupid woman deciding to pull into his lane without looking or using a turn signal.

[cindybubbles]

I just can't believe the stuff that people lose these days. You'd think that they'd be more careful, since some of these items would probably have sentimental value, but this site suggests otherwise.

On the other hand, I'm sure that some of these items are not lost, but confiscated/seized. Is that true for other police auctions?

I won't be buying these items, as they used to belong to someone else, and, therefore, could have some bad karma attached to it. But that's just me.

[Tama]

I know this is a fictional reference, but I recall on Family Matters one time that one of Carl's bosses bought a seized Porsche.

And Carl mentioned when he redid the front living room's decoration that most of the stuff belonged to ''hookers and drug lords.''

So yeah, probably seized.

[sms001]

I routinely go to whatever police auctions I can, mostly for bicycles. (I refurbish them and then donate them to homeless and halfway shelters.) Often pick up two or three for a few bucks a piece.

[Ben_Who]

Our police department uses PropertyRoom. I don't know if all their stuff goes through them, or if they just use the site to get rid of some stuff and still do public auctions. I do know that they USED to have massive public auctions that would sell anything - not just lost items, but snowplows, dump trucks, cop cars, computers, desks, filing systems - anything the city, not just the police, no longer needed.

Here's an article. Happy shopping.

[Shangri-laschild]

The dept I work at is in a college and we get stuffed turned in all the time. Middle of winter and we'll have 10 jackets turned in at a time usually. We only hold stuff for 30 days and once or twice a year the dept in charge of student clubs and college activities and such holds a sale/auction thing to sell off stuff. We can't sell cell phones anymore though because of someone buying one and not being able to activate it due to it being flagged by the phone company as stolen. I think the only exceptions are we donate the clothes and glasses.