Whenever the police department has possession of stolen or abandoned property acquired in connection with its police powers and functions, the department must perform a routine investigation to determine the owner or reputed owner of the property and file a report of the investigation.
A. 
If the owner or any person the manager has reason to believe has an ownership or security interest in the property is identified, the manager must send notification that the property is in its possession immediately by regular mail.
B. 
The notice will:
1. 
Identify the case number related to the property held;
2. 
Provide directions for retrieving the property; and
3. 
State that unless the owner or other person who has an ownership or security interest in the property redeems such property within 30 days from the date of mailing the notice and pays the costs incurred to the date of redemption, the property will be disposed of in accordance with HMC 3.12.030 and 3.12.050.
If the manager cannot identify an owner or other person who has an ownership or security interest in the property or no claim is made by such person subject to the terms and time limits of HMC 3.12.020, the manager will publish in a newspaper of general circulation within the city a notice of intent to dispose of the unclaimed property and will include a copy of the notice on the city's website. The manager may, in their discretion, also provide notice of the city's intent through other means.
(Ord. 6369 § 1, 2021)
A. 
An owner or person who has an ownership or security interest in the property may redeem stolen or abandoned property after applying to the city by submitting evidence of ownership or interest in the property. The manager will make a determination about whether the claim is rightful upon payment of the costs due and owning at the time the application to redeem is made.
B. 
After determining the ownership or interest is rightful, the manager will execute a receipt for the owner or other person with an ownership or security interest and return the property to the applicant.
C. 
If the application is denied, the costs paid will be returned to the applicant in full.
If no claim is made and determined valid after the prescribed time, the stolen or abandoned property becomes the property of the city and may be disposed of in accordance with city surplus property practices.
A. 
If the property is sold, the manager will execute a certificate of sale at the time of payment.
B. 
The certificate of sale will include the following:
CERTIFICATE OF SALE
This is to certify that under state laws relating to disposition of unclaimed property and Subchapter 3.12 of the Hillsboro Municipal Code, I did, on the __________ day of __________, 20__________ , sell property to __________ for the sum of __________ cash. __________ being the highest and best bidder, the following described property: (Brief description of the property), in consideration of the payment for which receipt is acknowledged, I deliver to purchaser the described property.
DATED this __________ day of __________, 20__________
NOTE: The City of Hillsboro assumes no responsibility as to the condition of the property. If this sale is invalid for any reason, the liability of the city is limited to the return of the purchase price.
After each sale of unclaimed property, the manager will deliver the property and the certificate of sale to the purchaser. Each sale and conveyance is final and not subject to redemption.
This subchapter applies to all stolen and abandoned property that comes into possession of the city.