The Laredo police department is turning to a new way of getting rid of old unclaimed property.
If you'd like to see what items are up for sale you'll now have to go online.
There will be no more rummaging through items at an old fashioned police auction here in Laredo.
Laredo PD says they've found a better way but do shoppers agree?
These items are just some of the thousands inside one of Laredo PD's warehouse-sized property rooms.
“All this is property that has been confiscated or abandoned or recovered from any theft.”
Many have been sitting in here for years.
“Way to many from shirts to power tools to rims and tires.”
Like this random Halloween mask.
“Confiscated from someone probably going into stores or someone causing havoc.”
Gone un-purchased in previous public auctions.
So police turned to a new way of getting rid of the old.
A way that didn't take as much time and organization and could bring in money faster.
so rather than having to go to an old fashioned police auction to pick up something like this, you can find that same item and others in your own home or office.”
The site is called propertyroom.com
Created by former police officers who saw the same situation in their own property rooms.
“You’re talking about hundreds of thousands of dollars.”
Propertyroom.com goes across the country picking up those abandoned items selling them and sending profits back.
“they knew by mainstreaming the business and having it online it would be a lucrative business and it is.”
Some local shoppers say it's a good idea.
“I think its good you don’t have to move from your house. you have it there on your computer.”
Others prefer it the old fashioned way.
“Online its just a picture. its better to get them or see them.”
Any items picked up by police have to be stored for 30 to 60 days to give owners a chance to pick up the merchandise.
But after it goes unclaimed it can be sold and the money put back in the city's general fund.
However, officers say the rooms will never be empty.
More items keep coming in daily and lots will be held as evidence for pending cases.