| We've all heard the claims of cars selling for $100 at | | | | thieves who have warehouses where they store |
| police auctions, but what's behind the claims? Did you | | | | stolen merchandise for later resale. Sometimes, |
| ever wonder where the seized property and vehicles | | | | especially in the case of chop shops, which are places |
| sold in a police auction or government auction comes | | | | where luxury cars and trucks are dismantled for their |
| from? | | | | parts, it is impossible to determine the rightful owners. |
| Almost every state has what are called "seizure laws". | | | | After all, one car stereo looks pretty much like another. |
| These laws allow law enforcement agencies to seize | | | | While every effort is made to return this merchandise |
| property that was used in the commission of a crime | | | | to its rightful owner, there is always some of it left |
| or was bought with money that was gained by the | | | | unclaimed. Sometimes, entire warehouses of stolen |
| commission of a crime. This means that if a drug | | | | merchandise and the building can be seized by law |
| dealer is arrested, law enforcement can logically | | | | enforcement and sold. |
| conclude that their assets were purchased with illegal | | | | Some vehicles that show up in police auctions and |
| drug money. That allows the police to seize cars, | | | | government auctions are vehicles that have been |
| trucks, boats, homes, and even jewelry and clothing. | | | | towed by the police or their authorized representatives |
| This includes property given to family members and | | | | for various reasons. Some have been involved in an |
| friends. If the purchase of the merchandise can be | | | | accident and need to be removed from the street and |
| traced back to the offender, it can be seized. If the | | | | some are towed for illegal parking. A small percentage |
| person is convicted, all of this property will eventually | | | | of these vehicles are never claimed. After legal |
| end up in a police auction. The seizure law is a helpful | | | | procedures to return these vehicles to their owners fail, |
| tool for law enforcement agencies, especially against | | | | the police may put them up for auction. |
| organized crime and drug dealers. | | | | How do you buy these cars, trucks, and other |
| Other merchandise that shows up in a police auction | | | | merchandise? Every day, hundreds of state and local |
| or government auction comes to them via helpful | | | | police departments hold these police auctions. |
| citizens who abandoned property and turn it into the | | | | Fortunately, there are web sites that list. A |
| police hoping they can find its owner. If the rightful | | | | membership with one of these sites allows you to |
| owner doesn't show up to claim it in a certain amount | | | | purchase this seized, surplus, and abandoned property |
| of time, it goes into the auction. | | | | up to 90% off market value. |
| Another source of merchandise is evidence collected | | | | A good review of these Police Auctions and |
| when the police make an arrest. Occasionally law | | | | Government Auctions web sites is at: Government |
| enforcement will arrest a thief or an organized ring of | | | | Auction Site Reviews. |