Among the run-of-the-mill bikes, jewellery and laptops seized by police and auctioned off to keen bidders is the odd item that hints at a more sinister past.
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Fyshwick company AllBids.com.au is contracted to hold regular online auctions of items that have been lost, stolen, or confiscated by Australian Federal Police officers under proceeds of crime laws.
"Every now and again you might see a bag with a crowbar and a hammer in it," AllBids.com.au chief executive Rob Evanssaid.
"You do see a few things and think, 'I hope they're used the right way the next time around that they're sold'."
Mr Evans said seized or unclaimed property was held at the AFP's Exhibit Management Centre at Mitchell for a set period before staff put together a schedule of items that were allowed to be sold off at auction.
"I see things in the paper where a year ago someone might have been caught for hoarding stolen goods from a particular store and they've gone as an exhibit of crime and been put away and then 12 months later you'll see them come through the auctions.
"There was one lady who stole a heap of handbags, and someone else had stolen manchester."
Common objects ranged from iPods, mobile phones and televisions to bags of foreign coins and precious family heirlooms.
There were also downright baffling items such as a blood pressure monitor and set of crutches.
"There's been a huge amount of different things that have gone through here, from X-box games to X-box units to mini laptops," Mr Evans said.
"Of course bikes are probably the easiest thing to disappear from people's places so there are all sorts of different bikes of all sorts of qualities."
Mr Evans said the fact some of the items could have had a tainted life before they arrived at the auction house didn't seem to bother bidders keen for a steal.
"Once or twice someone has come in and said 'Oh my god that was my bike that was stolen a year ago'.
"It's very rare that that happens but it does happen and Canberra's not that big of a place, so if it does happen it's going to happen here in Canberra, isn't it?"
Mr Evans said the business's location in the country's capital meant it had to handle unwanted items from many federal government agencies, departments and embassies in a transparent way.
"It's the most transparent way that surplus assets, that are owned in a way by the people and by the Commonwealth, to put them up and let the market decide. There are no reserves.
"It's even more important for the AFP, they have to make sure they do the right thing by everyone who used to own the item, by the insurance companies, everyone involved."
