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What Are Police Auctions? Where Do The Items For The Auction Come From?
Police auctions function very similarly to regular auctions, except the items being sold are seized, repossessed, unclaimed, or lost property.
There are several circumstances under which Victoria Police can take and sell your things. If the property or asset was used in a crime, owned by someone who has committed a crime, or was purchased using ill-gotten wealth, the police have the right to seize it. Police may also take items as ‘payment’ for any outstanding court debts or fines.
The items are then sold off at in-person or online auctions. The police force may choose to sell the items themselves or contact a third-party auctioneer to handle the sale.
What Are The Most Common Kinds Of Items At Government Auctions?
There’s almost no limit to what items can be seized and sold by the government. Car auctions and motorcycle auctions are popular, especially since vehicles are the most commonly seized property.
Furniture, clothes, jewellery, and fine art are less common, but still relatively easy to find. Some auctioneers may specialise in a certain type of item, but there are also mixed-category auctions as well.
What Happens If You Are The Owner Of The Auctioned Item/s?
If your property was taken as payment for court-mandated debt, you can retrieve it by paying off the fine. If it’s a lost item, you need to contact police as soon as possible, or else you risk it being auctioned off.
The only circumstance in which you have no claim over the item is if it was used to commit a crime or bought using illegally obtained funds. When in doubt, call the sheriff’s office and ask!
The Top Police Auctions In Melbourne, Australia
First State Auctions
Where: Depends on the auction
What you can buy: Watches, precious gems, jewellery, and others
Check the website for upcoming auctions
Check out First State Auctions’ website here.
Pickles Auctions
Where: Pickles Auctions website (online)
What you can buy: Office equipment, vehicles, heavy machinery, and others
Upcoming auctions: Check the website for ongoing auctions
Check out Pickles Auctions’ website here.
All Bids
Where: All Bids website (online)
What you can buy: Alcohol, electronic devices, cameras, vehicles, tools & equipment, jewellery, and others
Upcoming auctions: Check the website for ongoing auctions
Check out All Bids’ website here.
Breen Auction Group
Where: Footscray
What you can buy: Alcohol, electronic devices, tools & equipment, clothes, furniture, and others
Upcoming auctions: December 17
Check out Breen Auction Group’s website here.
Leonard Joel Specialist Auctioneers
Where: Depends on the auction
What you can buy: Paintings, sculptures, fine art, collectible items, jewellery, watches, furniture, and others
Upcoming auctions: Check the website for ongoing auctions
Check out Leonard Joel Specialist Auctioneers’ website here.
Sheriff Victoria
Where: eBay (online) and Blackburn
What you can buy: Vehicles and others
Upcoming auctions: Check this website for in-person auction dates and the eBay page
Check out Sheriff Victoria’s website here.
Grays Online Victoria
Where: Grays Online Victoria website (online)
What you can buy: Alcohol, electronic devices, tools & equipment, vehicles, fine art, jewellery, and others
Upcoming auctions: Check the website for ongoing auctions
Check out Grays Online Victoria’s website here.
Abbey’s Auctions
Where: Depends on the auction
What you can buy: Electronic devices, cameras, fine art, jewellery, furniture, and others
Upcoming auctions: Check the website for ongoing auctions
Check out Abbey’s Auctions’ website here.
Manheim
Where: Manheim website (online) or Altona North
What you can buy: Equipment and vehicles
Upcoming auctions: Check the website for ongoing auctions
Check out Manheim’s website here.
Sold To The Highest Bidder
Whether you’re looking for police car auctions, computer auctions, or something else entirely, checking out your nearby police auction is a great way to snag high-quality items at a reduced price. If you miss one, don’t worry – there’s always another auction date ‘round the corner.
