Seized Property & Evidence
The Property & Exhibit Unit is responsible for the cataloguing and storage of all exhibits and found property collected by the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service.
When making an inquiry with the Property Unit, please have your occurrence number available.
Members of the public are to contact the Property Unit prior to attending the office to determine if their property can be released and to discuss what documentation is required in order to retrieve property.
Photo identification is required prior to the release of any property being held by the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service.
Found Property
Found property is held for 90 days by the Property & Exhibit Unit while the police attempt to locate and notify owners. Found bicycles are held for 30 days.
After the 90 day period has lapsed and no owner has been found, the property will be lawfully disposed of in accordance with the Police Services Act.
Property seized by police or held as evidence
All property being held by the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service Property & Exhibit Unit that has been seized by the police or held as evidence cannot be released unless authorization from the Investigating Officer is on file.
In accordance with the Police Services Act, property in the possession of the Police Service that is the subject of court proceedings cannot be released until thirty (30) days after the conclusion of the court proceedings in order to allow for the appeal process.
Seized/Found Property Auctions
Property seized in criminal investigations, or recovered items that go unclaimed are auctioned off in accordance with the Police Services Act.
The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service is currently offering an online auctions platform.
Firearms
Firearms will only be released at a pre-scheduled appointment made through the Property & Exhibit Unit. Firearms in possession of the Police Service that are subject to release by way of a court order can only be released when the Property & Exhibit Unit has received the following:
- A copy of the court order,
- Authorization from the Investigating Officer; and the thirty (30) day appeal period has passed.
When attending to retrieve your firearm at your scheduled appointment, you will be required to produce proof of registration and all valid firearms licenses and registration certificates.
If the firearm being retrieved is a restricted weapon, you will be required to produce an Authorization to Transport (ATT) from a Chief Firearms Officer.
You can apply for an ATT by calling 1-800-731-4000. To be eligible for an ATT you must have a valid firearms license authorizing you to possess restricted firearms.
You must have a proper trigger lock and lock box in your possession to transport the weapon in order for the weapon to be released to you.
If you have any questions concerning the licensing or transporting of restricted firearms, inquiries can be made through The Canadian Firearms Program.