| Police Auctions Information: | | | | are usually allotted time to inspect the goods before |
| No, a police auction is not where you go to buy a | | | | the actual police auction begins. You should take |
| policeman. Most people do not realize that police | | | | advantage of this time because it is a very bad idea |
| agencies, including local police departments, county | | | | to bid on anything that you haven't had time to |
| sheriff departments, as well as state and federal law | | | | inspect. |
| enforcement agencies end up with a lot of | | | | Once the auction starts, you simply bid on the items |
| confiscated, lost, or abandoned property. This | | | | that you want. Have a budget in mind and don't bid |
| property ends up in the agency's possession as the | | | | more than you're willing to pay. It's easy to get |
| result of arrests, forfeitures, and just plain | | | | caught up in the bidding frenzy and end up paying far |
| carelessness on the part of the property owner who | | | | more than you intended to. |
| sets a camera down in some public place and walks | | | | Police auctions can be fun and profitable. Especially |
| away. | | | | police auto auctions. Watch your local papers for |
| Once the agency has accumulated enough property | | | | announcements, or contact the law enforcement |
| they will hold a police impound auction. The purpose | | | | agencies in your area and find out when they are |
| of the police impound auction is two-fold. First, they | | | | running the next police auctions. |
| want to empty out their property rooms which, in | | | | Government Auctions: |
| the case of some state and federal agencies, may | | | | Insiders know where to find government auctions to |
| be the size of a warehouse. Second, they want to | | | | buy homes, cars, boats, airplanes, motorcycles - even |
| turn this unclaimed or forfeited property into cash. | | | | furniture, designer clothes and jewelry. The property |
| This cash usually goes back into the agency's budget, | | | | available for public bidding at government auctions is |
| but it is sometimes earmarked for the particular | | | | often surplus goods the government no longer needs |
| government's "general fund". No matter where the | | | | or confiscated as evidence in criminal cases. Since |
| money ends up, police auctions are usually a big | | | | government auctions are not well publicized, insiders |
| money raiser for larger departments. | | | | can buy goods for pennies on the dollar. Whether |
| Forfeited Property & Police Impound Auction: | | | | you want to find bargains for yourself, or to resell |
| Items that fall under this category are usually the | | | | your purchases for a profit, government auctions are |
| creme de la creme of the police auctions industry. | | | | an effective way to increase your net worth and |
| This is where you can find anything from | | | | bottom line. |
| motorcycles and cars, to boats, airplanes, and homes! | | | | Own luxury goods at Wal-Mart Prices: |
| Forfeited property is generally the result of drug | | | | When the government auctions off property, all |
| arrests where it was determined that the seized | | | | closing bids are final. Many people attending |
| property was either used in the commission of | | | | government auctions for the first time can't believe |
| drug-related crimes, or was purchased with money | | | | the prices! Everything you buy at the auction is yours |
| that was received as the result of a drug-related | | | | to keep - no strings attached. With prices this low, it |
| crime. | | | | feels like your stealing it - only it is yours to legally |
| When you bid on this type of property at a police | | | | keep, courtesy of the government. If you have |
| impound auction you are agreeing to accept the item | | | | champagne taste but a beer budget, attend a |
| "as is". You need to be aware that the term "as is" | | | | government auction. Rolex brands have sold for |
| does not simple refer to blemishes or minor damage. | | | | Timex prices. Why buy a Ford when you can buy a |
| If, for example, you buy property at auction, and | | | | Mercedes for the same price? Traveling? Put away |
| that property has tax liens placed against it, you will | | | | your checkbook at the discount luggage store. Go to |
| be expected to clear those liens before you can take | | | | a government auction and spend the same money |
| rightful ownership. The same holds true for | | | | for Louis Vuitton or COACH! You never know what a |
| mortgages or car loans. | | | | government auction will have, but it can always be |
| You can find some real bargains at police auctions for | | | | yours for a price well below fair market value. |
| this type of high-value merchandise but you need to | | | | Starting a business with government auctions: |
| perform your due diligence so you don't end up in red | | | | No organization in America buys more office goods |
| ink after the transaction. | | | | than the government. Auctions are how they dispose |
| Unclaimed & Abandoned Property: | | | | of surplus goods no longer needed. Computers, |
| You would be shocked at what kind of property that | | | | desks, office chairs, AV equipment, copiers and trash |
| people either lose or simply walk away from. You | | | | cans - the government auctions them all off. |
| would be equally shocked at how many honest | | | | Conserve your capital for operating cash and profits. |
| people find that property and turn it into the police | | | | Smart business people find the office equipment they |
| department. Ultimately, if no one claims the property, | | | | need at government auctions. Imagine the thousands |
| and the owner cannot be otherwise be located -- it | | | | of dollars you could've spent on furniture and |
| ends up at a police auction where it is sold to the | | | | computers while you write out your check for |
| highest bidder. | | | | pennies on the dollar at the government auction. |
| Auction Process: | | | | Since our government buys the best, you know the |
| Most jurisdictions have specific laws, or ordinances, | | | | auction will be loaded with bargains to keep your |
| that deal with how the auction will be conducted. In | | | | business humming along. When you are ready to |
| almost every instance, the agency that is conducting | | | | start or expand your business the smart way, begin |
| the police impound auction is required to publish a full | | | | your office equipment search here at the auctions. |
| description of the items that will be auctioned as well | | | | Making government auctions your business: |
| as the date, time, and location of the auction. they | | | | After attending your first government auction and |
| will also publish payment terms which may be cash, | | | | experiencing great values firsthand, you may decide |
| money order, certified check, or any other payment | | | | to start your own resale business. Many people buy |
| method that they choose to accept. They will usually | | | | cars for hundreds of dollars and resell them for |
| also publish additional terms such as how long you | | | | thousands of dollars. Some people spend a day at a |
| have to remove the property form the auction site | | | | government auction procuring goods and bring them |
| once you win the bid, plus any legal disclaimers that | | | | home to sell on their own. E-bay is a popular way for |
| the lawyers think need to be mentioned. This | | | | people buying goods at the government auction to |
| publication is normally placed in at least one major | | | | resell them right from home. Without a retail store, |
| newspaper that serves the area with in the law | | | | you can save thousands in business expenses during |
| enforcement agency's jurisdiction. | | | | the year. Your on-line business you can create with |
| The purpose of this publication is first: to notify the | | | | government auctions is limited only by the size of |
| owner of the property that they have one last | | | | your garage! Become a power seller! |
| chance to redeem it before it is sold at auction, and | | | | You "Don't Need Experience" to bid at a government |
| second: to generate publicity for the police auction so | | | | auction |
| that it will be well attended. | | | | If you can hold up a bidding number, you can win at |
| Depending upon the size of the agency, and the | | | | a government auction. Of course, with any auction, |
| agency's experience conducting auctions, a police | | | | you will want to inspect the items you are interested |
| auction will either be run by the police department | | | | in buying before the bidding begins. If you are |
| itself, another government agency that is responsible | | | | interested in a computer, but could not turn it on to |
| for fiscal matters, or an outside auction company. | | | | see if it worked, how much would a non-working |
| The police auction might be held on the steps of the | | | | computer be worth to you? Since all sales are final, |
| County Courthouse, a room inside of some | | | | there are no returns. Avoid disappointment, and don't |
| government office, or a public arena. The location of | | | | bid on anything you can't personally inspect. |
| the police auction depends a lot upon the size of the | | | | Government auctions provide amazing values, but |
| agency and how much property is being auctioned | | | | don't lose your common sense in all the excitement. |
| off. | | | | Know how much the property is worth before the |
| Some police auctions require that you register as a | | | | auction begins, and your experience at the |
| bidder in advance, while others let everyone and | | | | government auction will be a positive one. |
| anyone show up at the day of the auction. Bidders | | | | |