Claiming Property

Evidence Room The Winston-Salem Police Department releases property by appointment or by walk-in during the hours of 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. In almost all cases, it is best to have an established appointment when retrieving property. This will ensure the necessary preparatory work is completed as much as possible before the owner's arrival.

Once property is declared eligible for release to owner, Evidence Management staff mail a certified letter. In that letter are details as to how to claim the property, including the presentation of proper identification. It is imperative that owners understand the obligations imposed by law to ensure the recipient is first, the eligible and proper owner as identified by police and the courts, and second, entitled to that property by local, state and federal laws.

All property releases begin at the Public Safety Center (PSC) located at

725 N. Cherry Street, Winston-Salem, NC. Upon arrival, present identification to the police officer stationed in the lobby.

Firearms that can be released to the rightful owner are done so only after the federally mandated background check is completed. This requires the owner to complete a questionnaire and attest to the accuracy of the information contained therein. Evidence Management staff will notify the owner by certified mail that the firearm can be claimed, and along with that letter will be a questionnaire to complete. The owner is encouraged to telephone Evidence Management staff and establish an appointment to receive the firearm.

The owner will be greeted by a Police Evidence Specialist who will collect the completed questionnaire, proper photo identification and will then coordinate the mandated federal background screening which may take as long as 30 minutes. Once that background screening is completed, and the standards to release are met, the Evidence Specialist will transfer the weapon to the owner.

All firearm releases begin at the Public Safety Center (PSC) located at

725 N. Cherry Street, Winston-Salem, NC. Upon arrival, present identification to the police officer stationed in the lobby.

VEHICLE RELEASE

All vehicles deemed eligible for release to the owner should be arranged on appointment basis. While appointments are not required, they are recommended due to the time involved in a vehicle release. Once a vehicle is eligible for release, a certified letter is mailed to the owner. The owner is encouraged to establish contact with Evidence Management staff to obtain the details necessary to complete the transfer of the vehicle to the rightful owner. Payment of administrative fees ($60.00), towing fees (starting at $75.00 and increasing when special equipment or on-call status is employed), and storage fees all may apply. The owner may be required to pay some fees at the Public Safety Center, and to then pay the contracted wrecker service at their business location to complete the transfer, or if the vehicle is stored at the Police Holdover Lot, the owner will be required to accompany the Evidence Specialist to the lot located off Highway 52. The owner will be required to provide their own transportation to where the vehicle is stored and will have to demonstrate availability of a third party to operate or tow the stored vehicle. In all situations involving vehicle releases, the owner is responsible for all maintenance and mechanical issues involving the release of the vehicle.

In all vehicle releases, proper identification to include a valid operator's license must be presented along with title information or bill of sale.

All vehicle releases begin at the Public Safety Center (PSC) located at 725 N. Cherry Street, Winston-Salem, NC. Upon arrival, present identification to the police officer stationed in the lobby.

BICYCLES

The Winston-Salem Police Department Evidence Management Section encourages owners of lost or stolen bicycles to first, file a report of the loss or theft, and second, maintain a sufficient description of the bicycle in order to make a proper claim once that bicycle is recovered. Evidence Management staff encounter two basic categories of this type property. Bicycles deemed eligible for release that also have an identified owner are seldom the case. Bicycles deemed eligible for release but no owner is identified is by far the more common situation. In the cases when the owner is identified, a certified letter is mailed and that letter contains information on how to claim the bicycle. When an owner is not known, state law mandates the disposition of bicycles after 60 days of unclaimed storage. Bicycles meeting 60 days of unclaimed storage status are released to a 501 (c) (3) organization as provided by law.

All bicycle releases begin at the Public Safety Center (PSC) located at 725 N. Cherry Street, Winston-Salem, NC. Upon arrival, present identification to the police officer stationed in the lobby.

Property Auctions

The disposal of unclaimed property is regulated by law. One of the options permitted is for the agency to auction property. The Winston-Salem Police Department auctions unclaimed property through the Internet web site, Property Room.com. The address on the Internet is http://www.propertyroom.com/ (external website) and items of value are consigned to this organization and offered for sale, similar to other commercial auction sites.

The major difference between this site and other commercial enterprises is that Property Room.com provides restitution for these sales to the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School system, in the form of payments through the City of Winston-Salem. Items posted for public auction are submitted by police and sheriff's departments from across the nation. Only items meeting the stringent standards authorized by North Carolina General Statutes are disposed of through this manner. All personnel are authorized to place bids on property after following basic login and registration processes. The Winston-Salem Police Department encourages citizens of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County to participate in the open and free auctions offered through this web site.