ONLY ON 3: WPD evidence room filling up

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The Wilmington Police Department is piling up with stolen and seized property and they’re hoping to return those items to their homes.

More than 60,000 items currently sit in the department’s evidence room waiting to be returned to their owners. The problem is that it’s not easy to locate those owners says spokeswoman Cathryn Lindsay.

“An issue that we face is we’re trying to find who owns this property so that we can give it back to them in a timely fashion, and it’s been a real struggle for us,” said Lindsay.

Everything from a pair of crutches and kayaks, to a broken piece of a tombstone are collected dust on the shelves. After a certain amount of time, many of the items are resold on a bidding website, but the staff at WPD tries to hang on to items like jewelry and other pieces that may hold a special meaning to someone.

If you believe your missing or stolen item might be in the evidence room, Lindsay recommends you call the station. Proof of ownership must be proved to obtain items.