Over 300 items will be up for bidding during the Sarnia Police Service's annual online property auction.
Bidding will go live on Saturday, August 5 at 7 a.m. and will be open until Wednesday, August 9 at 7 p.m.
Inspector Michael Van Sickle said the auction is managed by VanKlaveren Auctions, based out of Plympton-Wyoming.
"There is a plethora of different items that can be bid on," said Van Sickle. "There are power tools, we're seeing a lot of those right now, and bicycles are always the big thing here in Sarnia. There's a number of chainsaws and a variety of miscellaneous jewelry that will be available to be bid on."
Van Sickle said there are a couple of ways that the items come into possession of police.
"The items are found, either by a member of the public, or by an officer themselves," he said. "It comes into our possession when we aren't able to identify who the owner is to return it. The other way that property comes into our possession is through seized property that doesn't have a court order speaking to its disposition. So, if it was obtained through the lawful execution of our duties and the court hasn't ordered for its disposition, then you will see it go into the auction."
Van Sickle said any money generated through the auction will be dispersed at the discretion of the Police Services Board.
"That's right in the legislation of the Police Services Act," he said. "We can expect to make about $10,000 annually on the sale of seized items. This year is kind of an anomaly because we've taken a different approach with how our officers are to dispose of the property that they seize. We've been pressuring them to, in a timely manner, dispose of the property that they have come into possession of. Since we're undergoing that project right now, we're seeing an influx in the items by virtue of the fact that we're asking them to address them in a more timely manner."
For more information, and to place a bid, click here.
The items can also be viewed in person at VanKlaveren Auctions, located at 5279 London Line, between Reeces Corners and Forest Road.