| Many citizens are unaware of the large volume of | | | | These are government and police auctions where lost |
| seized property that ends up with law enforcement | | | | items are sold. This is merchandise that was turned |
| custody. This is not just on a local level, but state and | | | | into the police station and never claimed. While the |
| federal also. This is property that has been | | | | police will attempt to locate the owner, if they cannot |
| repossessed, lost, abandoned or seized from criminals. | | | | and no one comes forward to claim the lost item it is |
| Government auctions and police auctions are | | | | put up for auction. There are all kinds of items you |
| scheduled when there is a large volume of | | | | might find such as handbags, jewelry, electronics and |
| merchandise available. These kinds of auctions are | | | | more. |
| known as impound auctions. | | | | How Police Auctions are Held: |
| There are two main reasons law enforcement | | | | Although rules and regulations vary from place to |
| agencies hold auctions. One reason is to free up | | | | place, usually there will be a published notice listing the |
| space in the storage areas. The other is to raise | | | | items up for auction as well as the date, time and |
| money that is put back into the department or put | | | | place the auction will be held. At some auctions, you |
| towards a specific project. There are several different | | | | are required to sign up ahead of time. At others, |
| types of government and police auctions you may | | | | pre-registration is not a requirement. At most all |
| come across: | | | | auctions, there is time to check out the merchandise |
| Impounds and Forfeitures: | | | | before bidding starts. |
| These are the auctions you want to attend if you are | | | | The Lowdown on Government Auctions: |
| looking for bargains on big ticket merchandise. This | | | | Like police auctions, you can find super deals on |
| might include automobiles, watercraft, private planes | | | | expensive merchandise. However, government |
| and sometimes real estate. These types of items are | | | | auctions are often not as widely publicized as local |
| usually confiscated as part of a large drug arrest | | | | police auctions, so you may have to do some digging. It |
| where it was obvious that the property was | | | | is worth the time and effort to learn the ropes of |
| purchased with the money made from the | | | | these public auctions because you can actually make |
| manufacture and/or sale of illegal drugs. | | | | money. |
| The first thing you should know is that the items sold | | | | For example, you could buy a luxury car for several |
| at these auctions go as they are. This is not as cut | | | | hundred dollars when it is worth tens of thousands. |
| and dried as a car with a bullet hole in it. This could | | | | Then you could turn around and sell it for more than |
| mean that you will be stuck with liens to pay off | | | | you paid, putting a tidy profit in your pocket. This might |
| before you are deemed the owner of the | | | | also apply to jewelry, designer handbags, designer |
| merchandise. For example, if you bought a vehicle at a | | | | clothing, private jets...you wouldn't believe the variety |
| police auction that had loan payments due you would | | | | available at some of these auctions. |
| be responsible for those payments. | | | | Always set a limit for yourself before attending either |
| While it is definitely possible to score huge discounts on | | | | police auctions or government auctions. The reason |
| fabulous items at these auctions, it is important to | | | | for this is that it is very easy to get lost in the |
| make sure you know what you're getting into before | | | | excitement and overpay for an item just because the |
| bidding. | | | | bidding was heated. |
| Abandoned and Unclaimed Items: | | | | |