Want Items Seized by D.C. Police? Buy 'Em Online

IT'S POSSIBLE YOU'LL recognize some of the items for sale at Liquidation.com — many of them came from the streets of the District.

The District's batch of items seized by police were once sold off to buyers at auctions. Now, everything from decommissioned police cruisers to cars and trucks swiped from criminals are online for prospective purchasers to page through as easily as they might surf eBay.

The online auctions "are expected to improve data tracking and financial oversight of the city's surplus asset disposition activities," a Metropolitan Police Department press release said.

If you'd like to cruise the streets in a former MPDC Crown Vic, you'll want to act fast — there are eight of them for sale, but the auctions close on Wednesday. Prices range from a questionable $150 (this car's seen better days) to a slightly more respectable $750 (watch out, though — there are 23 bidders angling for this one).

Seized material more your speed? For a thoroughly sketchy $100, you could be the proud owner of a 1995 Ford Windstar. Note that the engine running condition is, as stated in all caps, "UNKNOWN." Might want to wait for the public inspection — to be conducted on Thursday, the site says — before bidding on this one.

The priciest item is a 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche C1500. It's listed at $7,500, but, like its less expensive brethren, its engine condition won't be known till Thursday. That hasn't stopped it from garnering 104 bids so far, though.

Note the MPDC's fine print, by the way, before considering any purchases: "Metropolitan Police Department's seized, abandoned and surplus property, including vehicles, are included in these auctions. A public inspection date of the property is included on the web page. All property offered for sale is "AS IS," "WHERE IS," and without recourse against the Government of the District of Columbia."

» Online Auctions [MPDC]