Vancouver police to auction stolen goods on Saturday

The Vancouver Police Department isholding itsannual auction of recovered stolen property on Saturday, with public previews on Thursday and Friday.

This year, more than 300 bicycles will be auctioned, along with a wide assortment of items, including sports equipment, power tools, jewelryand musical instruments.

"Everything goes, because it's an unreserved auction, so it doesn't matter how low the price is, it sells. So, definitely everything will sell," said Able Auctions auctioneer Rob Kavanagh.

• Vancouver police set to auction bikes, TVs, gold, and toothpaste
• Movie prop collection to be liquidated at Vancouver auction

"The educated auction buyer will come to the preview Thursday, Friday between noon and six and they'll go home and do their research, see how much it's worth, see how much it's worth used, and they'll set their budgets."

Ian Wightman, who manages the VPD'sproperty and forensic storage unit has been involved in the annual auction since 2003.

RAW: Vancouver police auction tour

9 years ago

Duration 1:41

The VPD's Ian Wightman shows off some of the property available this Saturday.

This year, a red penny-farthing bike stands out forWightman, who suspects the owner may surface before the auction actually begins.

"That's probably the most peculiar thing we have this year," he said.

Wightman said, in an ideal world, none of the propertywould be auctioned off it would all be returned to itsrightful owners. But he expects Saturday's auction will bring in about $200,000 for the City of Vancouver, minus Able Auctions' commission.

There are about 800 lots in this year's auction, some are single items like bicycles, but many are bags, or bundles of items. There's a set of four sturdy bolt cutters in one lot, and a bag full of toothbrushes and toothpaste in another. Kavanaghguesses that the bolt cutters may sell for about $50.

"I recommend everybody cometo the preview, because they're not going to see any of this property the day of the auction," said Wightman."It's in the back and it just comes onto the stage, it's sold and then it goes back into the back."

He added that peoplehopingto recover stuff that's been stolen should check out the preview and make a claim before it goes to auction on Saturday morning.

The previews and auction are held at Able Auctions, located at1055 Vernon Drive in Vancouver.