Bored with eBay? Check out Police PropertyRoom.com
Not having any luck with bids on eBay? Well, there's another online auction site you might want to hit--PropertyRoom.com. The goods in question are from police property auctions. That's right, the loot seized from thieves and convicted and alleged criminals.
For example, under the heading "Hot Pursuit Specials" (which features an illustration of a "Dragnet"-style police car), a Sony PlayStation Portable was listed, with bidding at $171. Among the "Fine jewelry items starting at $1" is a 1.5-carat diamond in white gold setting engagement ring, with bidding at a mere $710. There are plenty of car stereos, bikes, cell phones, TVs, even Paris Hilton brand perfume for $5. And also real estate. You can get a 7,500-square-foot plot of land near Alamo Beach, Texas, just blocks from the water, for $4,340. Outside of a four-piece Fantasy Knife Set that looks mildly menacing, there appear to be no weapons listed.
"Today's law enforcement agencies have property rooms full of stolen or forfeited goods. The rightful owners are not easily identified, and once property is no longer needed as evidence, it must be disposed of properly. Enter Property Room," the Web site explains. "Founded and managed by former police officers, Property Room harnesses the power of the Internet to quickly move items out of police property rooms, reduce personnel costs and generate revenue well beyond traditional police auction methods."
Elinor Mills covers Internet security and privacy. She joined CNET News in 2005 after working as a foreign correspondent for Reuters in Portugal and writing for The Industry Standard, the IDG News Service, and the Associated Press. E-mail Elinor. 
