A Sawzall used in an attempted assault, stolen car stereos and dozens of bikes all collected by the Merced Police Department may be headed for online auction.
The department is asking the City Council to approve on Monday a contract with PropertyRoom.com, an Internet auction house that sells unclaimed property from law enforcement agencies.
"There are so many reasons this is a good idea," Cmdr. Floyd Higdon said Thursday. "This is something to help us save some time."
Photo by Lisa James
Community Service Officer DonnaLee Hartman looks over some bikes that could be up for auction.
The Web site was recently featured on "The Today Show." It contracts with 230 agencies in the state and basically uses the same format as eBay. Thursday afternoon, a 2000 Range Rover had been bid up to $3,150 and a two gigabyte iPod Nano was at $31.
Former Los Angeles Police Chief Daryl Gates, Long Beach Detective Tom Lane and Long Beach officer Harry Brockman founded the Web site in 1999, according to a city staff report on the proposal.
The Merced Police Department holds in-person auctions every year to clear out its evidence room. The event requires staffer's attention to sort items, move them to another storage area and then move them to the auction area. It often results in overtime, Higdon said.
Community Service Officer DonnaLee Hartman suggested that the department contract with the Web site to streamline the process.
Police officials still need to make sure the case has been closed, that the investigating officer is fine with the items' disposal and that the true owner hasn't been found.
Employees with PropertyRoom transport the merchandise to the warehouse and list the items for auction. The Web site will take a 50 percent cut on anything sold for less than $1,000. The business will take a 25 percent cut for items sold for more than that.
The department just got a brand-new vacuum that was found on the side of the road. They're still waiting for it to be claimed by the owner. If it's not in the next 90 days it could be headed for auction.
The same goes for other items: computer parts, car stereos, car parts, jewelry and tools. "You name it," she said, "we've sold it."
Reporter Scott Jason can be reached at (209) 385-2453 or sjason@mercedsun-star.com.
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