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Property Room: You Can't Sell Stolen Goods, But the Cops Can

by Truemorist | June 30, 2009 at 08:40 am

1249 views | 1 Recommendation | 2 comments

PropertyRoom.com is a website that auctions off items from the property rooms of over 1600 police agencies in the United States.

A property room is where police and other law-enforcement agencies store old pieces of evidence or stolen goods, which are eventually auctioned off to make money to invest in the department or in officers' pension funds.

While police departments originally scheduled public auctions to get rid of their property room items, more and more have partnered with PropertyRoom.com for its convenience and efficiency.

"It's a lot easier for them [PropertyRoom.com] to come and take it all than for us to auction it off," said sheriff's spokesman Sgt. John Urquhart "It's a very efficient way to dispose of excess property we get."

"It's a very green way to do it," added Cindy Granard, detective sergeant of evidence for Seattle police. "It's recycling old material and giving it to someone new."

Funny, that's what the thieves say, too. Green living, it's for everyone!

So, let me get this straight. Police officers confiscate property. Police officers then get to sell--and make profits from--said property?

No conflict of interest here, folks. Move along now, move along.

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Katy C (not verified)

at 05:15 on August 7th, 2009

I don't see how there is a conflict of interest. Generally, the stolen property cannot be traced back to its original owner, it has been taking up space in an over crowded evidence room and by selling said property - the police department can raise money for necessary programs without requesting stipends from the government (i.e. your taxes).

I certainly do not have a problem with a website willing to offer me goods at low prices while circumventing the need for increased taxes.

JOE1234 (not verified)

at 19:13 on August 18th, 2009

Is it legal to triple the price of shipping and you are a law enforcement agency? TV shipped at 86 pounds are actually 30 pounds which cost $24.00 but you pay $48.00 hum and they say we break the law. 27" Lcd Flat Screen A27W221. I own one already and that what I paid for Shipping $24.00.