Posted on 09/15/2012 7:53:41 AM PDT by djone
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WIAT) - For decades, the Tuscaloosa Police department has held auctions every six months. The bulk of what is auctioned off are city surplus items, but the more interesting finds come from the department's evidence room. Once evidence is no longer needed in a case and it has gone unclaimed, it becomes eligible for auction. The evidence room is particularly full now. The department has been unable to hold an auction since before last year's April tornado.
The department hopes to solve the issue by taking the auction online. They currently have 800 items with bar codes in evidence, although there could be multiple items in boxes or bags. Police say in the past, one bidder was able to purchase a bag of jewelry for less than $100 and it contained a diamond ring worth thousands. There hasn't been a company selected to conduct the auction, or a date set. The police department will go before the city council's public safety committee again next week.
Wasn’t all of this stuff *somebody’s* private property before it became “evidence”???? Are there not rightful owners (or heirs) that this stuff should be returned to????
Wonder how much stuff already got liberated by the cops.
The good stuff is already in some cop’s house.
I doubt the police bother to read the “Lost Items” section of the local newspaper. “Lost: Diamond ring, huge sentimental value, large diamond, stolen from me on ____ at the location of ____ . Reward!”
This police department at least makes the assertion the property is “unclaimed”.
The Milwaukee PD takes the position that once a piece of property comes into their custody, it is theirs and they will ultimately sell it and keep the proceeds.
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