Confiscated from crooks, auction items bring out Christmas shoppers
November 30th, 2015 Posted in OpinionStory & Photos by Amanda Wray
LOGAN — Dozens of community members filled the County Fairgrounds pavilion to get some early Christmas-shopping done at the Cache County Sheriff’s Office Pre-Black Friday Auction the Saturday before Thanksgiving.
Sheriff’s Sgt. Anderson inspects a confiscated dune bugger before the auction. (Amanda Wray photo)
More than 200 lots — including tools, a trailer, Legos, bicycles, Fossil watches, household items and a dune buggy — were auctioned off to the eager Christmas-shoppers.
The goodies were the former property of criminals, Sgt. Pam Anderson said. “We have confiscated items that were from a burglary or a drug bust. Most of this stuff was bought with stolen money and we haven’t been able to find owners.”
This is the first time the office has held the auction in the winter, she said. The turnout was “fantastic” and led to an auction that was “way better than I thought it was going to be,” she said.
The auction drew 65 bidders, including families, pairs or couples, Sheriff’s Office employee Kati Jensen said.
The county attorney had designated all the items as Sheriff’s Office surplus. The items have been stored in a trailer behind the sheriff’s office for more than two years, Anderson said.
The proceeds from the auction go back to the county. “It goes right back into the county fund,” Anderson said. “It doesn’t come to the Sheriff’s Office at all.”
Logan resident Leah Whitaker was hoping to get her Christmas shopping done early. “My husband is big into tools, so we thought it would be good to come check it out and good for Christmas,” she said.
Even though the couple went home with only a table lamp, Whitaker was glad she came.
“This was fun!” she said. “It was a good experience and I’m happy to support the community.”
Potential buyers look over all the goodies at the annual Sheriff’s Auction. (Amanda Wray photo)
Wyatt Goring was looking to rebuild his local taxidermy business, after a robbery emptied his shop last year.
“All my tools, all my equipment, all my shop gear was stolen and never got recovered,” he said. “I’m not looking for it here, but I’m here looking for some tools and trying to replace the ones that were stolen.”
He also brought his father with him.
“He likes to buy the tools and look for bargains as well, but we also have some employees on a ranch that love the bikes, so we bought a few bikes to take care of them,” he said.
Goring walked away with several bikes, Dremel tools and miscellaneous tool lots, giant bins or tool bags full of surprises.
“I’m excited to go through the miscellaneous tools and see what’s in there,” Goring said. “It’s kind of like Christmas to be able to open up your stocking and see what you’ve got inside.”
TP
Tags: Cache County Sheriff's Office, confiscated goods, Sgt. Pam Anderson, stolen goods
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