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April 23, 2004

Spike Goes to the Police Auction.

So, first: All the information on where to find it and how it's run, because I found it myself after about ten minutes of searching and there are sites trying to charge you for the information. That pisses me off.

Chicago's police auctions are monthly. They're run by Ace Auctioneers, at the West Technical Institute. All the information, along with schedules, is here. The West Technical Institute is easy to get to an impossible to miss, so knock yourself out.

I went as an experiment, mostly. Wanted to see what they had.

They had bikes. Holy shit, did they have bikes. I HAVE NEVER SEEN SO MANY GODDAMN BIKES. Kid's bikes, adult's bikes, trick bikes, mountain bikes, city bikes, vintage bikes... and one impossibly gorgeous freak bike, which I kind of felt bad about seeing up on the block. Must have broken the owner's heart when it was stolen, it obviously had weeks of work put into it.

Went for fifty bucks.

The auctioneer took the time between lots to recommend bike locks to the crowd, and giving advice about how to saw the remains of the former owners' locks off the frame.

After the bikes came a potpourri of remote controlled cars, car stereos and speakers, suits, t-shirts, silverware, and, uh, teapots. Among other things. I think the furnace went for a hundred. How the hell you seize a furnace in the line of duty, I have no idea.

For a general idea of how out of touch I am, I was horrified to see a new mountain bike go for one hundred and seventy dollars. I made a note of the brand, and their website tells me that model retails for about a grand.

So... yeah. Consider me a cheerleader for this sort of thing. Forever.

I just wish I needed a bike.

Posted by Spike at April 23, 2004 03:29 PM

Comments

Kick ass. In North Carolina, they have goverment surplus auctions. I don't know about police auctions, since the state one sells their old Crown Vic crusiers. An old friend of mine stocked up on server boxes and other misc. computer gadgetry there. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I think one like what you went to would be better. Drug dealers have nicer stuff than state employees.

Posted by spookable at April 23, 2004 07:12 PM
205.188.116.146

My mom's bike was stolen when she was 18, and when she found the perp riding around on it (she lived in a small town), she told the police and they confiscated her bike as evidence. She went weekly to the department to ask for it back, but they said they couldn't give it to her, and then 4 months later she went to the police auction and they were selling her bike!

This story brought to you by my mother, who has been bitter over the loss of her bike, and how the POLICE STOLE her bike from her, for literally 30 years now.

As a total side note, buying stuff at a police auction can score you some great gear at an awesome price *lol*

Posted by Zephyrus at April 24, 2004 02:23 AM
142.103.44.227

I'm gonna try estate sales, next. Anything to get away from the damn bikes.

They haunt me.

Posted by spike at April 26, 2004 02:05 AM
68.20.26.7

Hey Spike, being a Chicago person myself, I was wondering if you knew of where to find info on the auctions where they sell cars, motorcycles and such. Everything that I look at wants to charge me $8-12 a month.

Posted by Willow at May 16, 2004 11:49 PM
64.81.149.186

Never belived in such a so sexy.

Can u be of help one more and i get pics unlocked

Posted by Dennis at January 1, 2010 04:03 PM
85.177.252.223

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