Premium ContentMouse over Home then click on Premium Content for information.The Douglas County Sheriff's Office plans to unload some hot items online.
The Sheriff's Office is the latest local law enforcement agency to sign up with PropertyRoom.com, an online auction site for seized and surplus items.
Stolen car stereos, jacked jewelry and other ripped-off items that have not been claimed by owners clog up evidence and property rooms.
Instead of holding a live auction for a few dozen bidders, PropertyRoom.com picks up an agency's surplus property, cleans, appraises and photographs it, then sells it to a much larger buying audience.
The online auction site should ease employees' workload and could garner increased revenues, said Capt. Tom Wheeler of the sheriff's property and evidence division.
"I think it's a good opportunity for the county," Wheeler said.
Douglas County signed a one-year contract with PropertyRoom.com to test out its services.
The Bellevue, Council Bluffs and Lincoln Police Departments are a few of the Midlands agencies already using PropertyRoom.com. Omaha police hold live auctions for unclaimed property.
Bellevue Police Chief John Stacey said he has no complaints about the online auction site.
"We have to get rid of the stuff piling up, and if revenue comes in, that's great," he said.
PropertyRoom.com's fee is a percentage of the sold items.
Wheeler said sales from Douglas County's live auction in 2011 totaled $1,200, but the amount varies each year depending on the inventory. Typically, the Sheriff's Office has surplus sports memorabilia, televisions, other electronics and jewelry.
Jody Mantich, property and evidence technician for Bellevue police, said her department recently sold through PropertyRoom.com several car stereos, CDs and sunglasses after a string of burglaries.
PropertyRoom.com sells vehicles, jewelry, fashion, electronics and offbeat items such as coffins, an eight-person bike, a 7-foot fiberglass shark, an electric elephant ride and a Bentley.
Contact the writer:
402-444-3131, sam.womack@owh.com
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