Seized Property Enforcement Auctions Law Home Items Officers

Sometimes "law enforcement officers" (police officers and people with related jobs) have to "seize" (take without permission) "personal property" (things that are owned by individuals) in the "course of their duties" (while performing their regular jobs). This is common when law enforcement officers find "evidence" (proof that something has happened) of drug "trafficking" (buying and selling of illegal things) or terrorist activities. If the criminal is "found guilty" (determined to have committed the crime), it may not be clear who the seized personal property belongs to, given that it was "obtained" (acquired; gotten) through criminal activity. In these cases, the law enforcement "agency" (government department or organization) may "hold" (organize) a "seized property auction," giving local citizens an opportunity to bid on the seized property.

Similarly, banks that have "foreclosed on a home" (taken ownership of a home because the people who received the home loan are no longer making payments) hold auctions to sell off the home and any items left inside it. They do this in an effort to "recover" (get back) the money they loaned to the buyers.

The items sold in seized property auctions, especially ones resulting from drug trafficking, are often "luxury items" (products that are expensive and very nice to have) such as "sports cars" (cars that can be driven very fast) and jewelry, so bidders have an opportunity to snag these items "at a bargain" (for a much lower price than typical or expected). The "proceeds" (money received; profits) from the auction are typically "funneled back" (returned; given) to the bank or the law enforcement agency.