Inside This Week’s Police Auction Market – 3 Upcoming Sales inc Police Vehicles, Seized Goods & Recovered Assets
We track upcoming police, sherriff, and government-seized goods auctions across Australia. This week we feature 3sales. These sales are a mxed bag and that’s what makes them so interesting. Jewellery, bicycles, tools, electronics, and general property are regular fare, but there are always suprise lots.
FAQ
What comes up at police auctions?
Unclaimed found property, stolen goods that went unclaimed by owners, and, less commonly, proceeds of crime forfeitures. Bicycles, power tools, electronics, and general household goods are most common. Seized vehicles occasionally appear through specific court-ordered sales.
Are police auction goods clean title?
Unclaimed found property and abandoned goods are sold as clear title. Court-ordered forfeitures may have specific conditions, always read the sale terms carefully and confirm with the auctioneer before bidding on vehicles.
Is there a PPSR risk on police auction vehicles?
Always run a PPSR check on any vehicle regardless of source simply because it’s so cheap to do so. Even government-disposal vehicles can have encumbrances in rare cases. The auctioneer’s title warranty should cover you, but verify before bidding.
Trends & Insights
The biggest story this week is the surge of high-end finance repossessions hitting the auction block. Manheim ran what it called the largest prestige seized car sale since pre-Covid, featuring a near-new BMW M4 CS with just 56 km on the clock and a $500,000 McLaren 720S surrendered by owners unable to meet repayments (news.com.au, Jun 18). This signals that rising finance stress is now pushing serious metal into the government disposals channel, not just run-of-the-mill impounds.
For buyers focused on volume and value, the council pipeline remains steady. Logan City Council has scheduled a major impounded vehicles auction for 23 June 2026 at its Beenleigh depot, offering over 50 lots including an Audi Q5, two Mercedes C200s, a Toyota Landcruiser and multiple Holdens and Toyotas (logan.qld.gov.au, Jun 23). All vehicles are sold unregistered with no warranty, so factor in compliance costs before bidding. Victoria Police is also gearing up for a forfeited goods auction on 7 July 2026 via Breen Auction Group at Sunshine West, covering lost, unclaimed and forfeited property (breenauction.com.au).
On the national online front, Allbids continues to run police seized and recovered goods auctions across NSW and other states, processing thousands of lots annually including cars, electronics, tools and jewellery (allbids.com.au). Meanwhile, WA Police property auctions remain active through Grays Australia, with updated catalogues as of May 2026 covering seized vehicles, tools, electronics and sporting goods (wa.gov.au).
Watch for more prestige repossessions to surface as lenders clear defaulted portfolios, and keep an eye on the Logan sale this Wednesday for a quick turnover opportunity.
Last updated: 22 June 2026
Rod’s Tips
Bicycle lots are consistently good value. Police unclaimed property sales regularly include quality bikes that went unreported or unclaimed. Inspect for frame damage and check serial numbers through the BIOS bike registry if you’re concerned.
Tool and electronics lots need careful inspection. Power tools at police auctions are often in working condition but may lack accessories or cases. Then, of course, after you buy a charger you find out it doesn’t work! (That’s a common one!)Request a test of anything valuable before the auction closes where inspection is permitted. Otherwise, bid for it’s parts value only.
Major proceeds-of-crime sales are rare and don’t confuse them with routine disposals. The reality is mostly lost bicycles and found phones, not seized luxury cars. Be skeptical of heavily marketed “police auction” events that promise extraordinary finds.
Where I always went wrong at these types of sales You can get some great finds at these sales and most of the people you’ll meet there will be regulars and most likely jewellery traders. They are focused, they never overbid, and they never let a deal slip by. For me, I was never that focussed, just a bargain hunter and I wish I had their focus. I’d get caught by shiny object syndrome, and guaranteed, I’d leave these sales with a collection of stuff that I did not need and would likely have trouble selling. My most important tip to you is simple, focus. Have a list of the lots, mark what you want to bid on after inspection, what its worth after fees, and stick to it. After a string of questionable purchases, and dealing with the varierty of items every sale, I stuck to more consistent sales of things I knew well and knew I could either use or flip succesfully. But, if jewellery, watches,phones, bikes, tools, etc are your thing, then go for it, just be focused.
Victoria
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Sheriff’s Office of Victoria eBid Auction
More detail
These are ex-police vehicles, so expect the usual hard-worn mechanical condition. The Kia Cerato S is a solid city runabout, likely with high kms and interior wear from patrol duties. The Holden Captiva 5 is a mid-size SUV that saw fleet service, meaning it copped plenty of stop-start driving and may need attention on the driveline.
Autorola handles these disposals for the Sheriff’s Office of Victoria. No reserve prices are listed, so the final bid decides the sale. Check the service history and any damage notes in the description before bidding. Both vehicles are located in Victoria, and buyers are responsible for collection and transfer paperwork. If you’re after a cheap project car or a second runabout, these are worth a look.
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Victoria Police Auction — TUESDAY 28TH JULY 2026
More detail
Breen Auction Group has been the preferred auctioneer for Victoria Police for over 15 years, so the provenance is solid. This is a classic police auction where you’ll find a grab-bag of seized goods, from cordless drills and angle grinders to laptops, tablets, and stereo gear. There’s also general merchandise that could include everything from homewares to sporting equipment.
The key here is that lots are sold as-is, with no returns. That means a sharp eye on the photos and descriptions pays off. If you’re after workshop tools or cheap electronics to flip, this is the kind of sale where a $10 bid can net a $200 item. Just factor in pickup from Sunshine West and bring cash or card on the day.
Don’t expect a polished retail experience. Police auctions are raw, but for the bargain hunter who knows their gear, the value is often in the unknown. Get in early, inspect if you can, and bid smart.
Australian Capital Territory
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Police Recovered Goods
More detail
AllBids has been running online auctions for over 15 years, and this one is a classic clearance of seized and unclaimed property. The catalogue is a mixed bag of everyday items and the occasional surprise. You will find a stack of bicycles, both kids and adult sizes, plus a decent selection of cordless power tools from Makita and DeWalt.
Electronics feature heavily. There are multiple smartphones, tablets, and laptops, including recent iPhone and Samsung Galaxy models. A handful of smartwatches and headphones are also in the mix. For the home, expect small appliances, some new-in-box items, and a collection of jewellery and watches that could hold hidden value.
Buyers should check each lot carefully. Condition varies from new and unused to clearly second-hand. All lots are sold as-is. Bidding is online only. The close date is yet to be confirmed, so keep an eye on the listing for the final countdown.
Looking for a something else? Check the AuctionFinder homepage for the latest sales by category and state.
AuctionFinder curates upcoming auctions from established Australian auctioneers. We do not conduct the auctions ourselves and are not affiliated with sellers unless stated. Auction details can change! Please be sure to always confirm dates, terms and conditions directly with the auctioneer.
do these auctions still require a deposit before being able to bid? I remember two years ago I went to one in Vic and they wanted $200 to walk in the door, I walked in the door OK, the door to my car and went somewhere else
Breen Auctions in Victoria ask for a $250 cash-only registration fee to participate in their auctions. The fee is fully refundable on the day if no purchases are made. It seems wild at first, and I get where you are coming from, but it’s no big deal. One benefit, if there was one, is that could make the sale a little more exclusive, meaning more realistic prices.
Do you know of any in Queensland?
they are not listed as such, but keep an eye on McDonald Auctions