Fort Lauderdale Police Department
Home MenuEvidence - Property Section
The Evidence Unit receives catalogs and stores evidentiary, abandoned, forfeited, and found property in accordance with state and local laws.
Claiming Your Property
Items classified as “Found” or “Safekeeping” (except for firearms) may be claimed by appointment only. The phone number is 954-828-5450. Items classified as Evidence are governed by special conditions. A photo identification such as a Driver’s License or passport is required for the release of all items. The Police Department is located at 1515 West Cypress Creek Road, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309.
Found Property
If you are listed as the owner on the property receipt, you may claim your property by contacting the Evidence Unit at 954-828-5450 to schedule your appointment. If you are not listed as the owner, you can contact us at 954-828-5450 to present proof of ownership (for example, a bill of sale from the store where you purchased the item or notarized bill of sale if the item was purchased from a private individual). Once proof of ownership has been established by an Officer, we may return the property and will call to set up an appointment to pick the property up.
Claiming Found Property
The finder must deposit $25.00 to an Evidence Unit member within five (5) days. The fee must be in the form of a money order or cashier’s check payable to the City of Fort Lauderdale. No other form of payment is acceptable. You can claim the found property after 90 days if the owner is not located. (If the item needs to be placed in a newspaper ad, it may surpass 90 days).
*You cannot claim found firearms or contraband.
Evidence/Property Requiring Special Handling
Found property money will be deposited if not claimed within six (6) months of being submitted. The finder will have 30 days following the 180 day holding time, to exercise a claim for the money.
Found Property in which the finder wishes to claim must have a $25 deposit. The deposit must be made within 24 hours of the time the property was submitted to the Evidence Property Section.
Department employees act as agents for the city and are not considered as the finder. Therefore, no employees are entitled to the return of the found property.
Online Auctions
After certain periods of time specified by law, the Evidence Unit may dispose of property that is no longer required to be stored. The Fort Lauderdale Police may sell the property online at www.propertyroom.com , an online auction site specializing in property from police agencies across the country. Interested person may view the items and submit bids by logging onto www.propertyroom.com All sales a subject to the bidder’s responsibility for shipping and handling. All sales are final. For more information on how to participate in this action, log onto the website indicated above.
Safekeeping Property (excluding firearms)
Safekeeping property requires an authorization for either the arresting officer, case detective or a court order for release. Please contact the Evidence Unit to make sure authorization has been received prior to arrival. A valid photo ID will be required when you pick up the property. It is the policy of Fort Lauderdale Police Department that Safekeeping property is held for 60 days and must be picked up within this timeframe. Otherwise, it will be disposed of.
Evidence Property
Per Florida statute 925.11 and 925.12 if the suspect in a felony case is found guilty by a jury or if they have pled in court, the property must be held util the sentences has been fully served, regardless of who owns the property. If the suspect was “Acquitted” of all charges, the property can be released with written authorization from the detective or officers responsible for the case. A certified copy of the court order can also release the property at any time. The Office of the Legal Advisor for the Fort Lauderdale Police Department must be notified of all court orders that involve the release of property.
Claiming Firearms
The release of firearms is governed by how the weapon is classified. Evidence, Safekeeping or Court Ordered Domestic Injunction. If you’re uncertain as to the classification assigned to your property, check with the Officer or the detective who is handling the case. If you need more information regarding the release of firearms and weapons, contact the Evidence Unit at 954-828-540.
All persons entering the Police Department to claim a firearm are subject to a background check for prior felony convictions. Firearms will not be released to a convicted felon. If there are any questions about the adjudication of a charge (s) the weapon will not be released until the issue is resolved. Ammunition is not returned due to safety concerns unless a court order specifies otherwise.
Bicycles
Received (unless marked for evidence) are held for ninety days (90) after which time they become the property of the city. A citywide initiative issues bicycles to those who have had one stolen. Once a month, by appointment only, these bicycles are given to the public ONLY after they have submitted an offense report as proof of their stolen bike.
The Evidence Unit is open to the public on Wednesdays, by appointment only, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. It is temporarily located at 1350 West Broward Boulevard. The phone number is (954) 828-5450.
Release of other evidence/property items may require a Court Order or a release card from the impounding officer or his supervisor.
A photo identification such as a DL and Passport is required for the release of all items.