The increase is partly a result of the larger size of the buying audience. Also critical is the itemization and appraisal of individual goods, a service performed by the Web site -- as opposed to live police auctions, where things are often sold off in boxed lots. "In the old way," Buckley said, "there may be a thousand-dollar ring in that lot that you would get it for US$25."
For those looking to recover lost or stolen items, Property Room has a feature called Stealitback, which lets people register the items' descriptions and serial numbers. If a registered item is received, Property Room returns it to its owner.
Right now, the participating police departments are limited to California, but discussions are under way with departments across the country.
As urban lost-and-founds, police-department property rooms often acquire the most unusual things. In San Francisco, for example, a nine-foot fiberglass Superman turned up. "It's absolutely gorgeous," said Buckley, who was ready to put the superhero up for auction. "I know collectors would just be dying for that one."
But right before the Superman made it to Property Room, someone claimed it. Then someone else did. So Superman is back in the police department's property room. "It's in the middle of litigation," Buckley said.
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