D.C. Police Offer Peek at What's Been Pilfered

A brown wooden organ, possibly from a church. One white baby bootee with pink lace, alongside a silver flask engraved with the initials J.E. Rusty spoons and framed photos in black and white, circa mid-20th century.

Provenance, unknown. Estimated value, $200,000.

The auction house trying to dispose of this treasure-trove is none other than the D.C. police department.

But first, it is giving the rightful owners a chance to view and claim hundreds of stolen items that were seized in a fencing operation run out of a liquor store on Good Hope Road in Southeast.

Tomorrow is the last day the items will be posted at http://mpdc.dc.gov/stolenproperty. Police are encouraging anyone who has been burglarized to visit the Web site and take a look. Detectives with the department's burglary and pawn unit will call people who e-mail them with a claim and set up appointments for viewing.

Claimants will also have a chance to view the stolen items in person next week at the D.C. Armory, where they will be displayed Monday through Wednesday. Police require that anyone claiming property provide identification such as a driver's license and serial numbers, insurance appraisals or photographs of the belongings.

Unclaimed items will be given to the federal government to be sold at auction.

If there's a market.

Most of the purloined stock is of pedestrian, garage-sale vintage. Who knew there were so many burglars up for pilfering electric drills, small tool kits, chain saws, ladders and wrenches?

Other items would seem to hold value for the rightful owner and nobody else: A rusting set of golf clubs, 10 pairs of eyeglasses, some with wire rims and others of black plastic.

There are reminders of the fleeting shelf life of much technology: from a pre-digital age, single-lens reflex cameras and VCRs. And if your Mercedes is missing a spare tire with the logo engraved on the rim, you'll find it here.

One item, though, stands out as a particularly apt target for theft: a videotape on personal debt and wealth management.