A. Valuation of $250.00 or More. If the reported value of the property is $250.00 or more and no owner appears and proves his ownership of the property within 90 days, the Police Department shall cause notice of the property to be published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation. If after seven days following the first publication of the notice, no owner appears and proves his ownership of the property and the person who found or saved the property pays the cost of the publication, the title shall vest in the person who found or saved the property, unless the property was found in the course of employment by an employee of any public agency, in which case the property shall be sold at public auction. Title to the property shall not vest in the person who found or saved the property or in the successful bidder at the public auction unless the required fee(s) is first paid to the city, county, or city and county whose police department caused the notice to be published.

B. Valuation of Less Than $250.00. If the reported value of the property is less than $250.00 and no owner appears and proves his ownership of the property within 90 days, the title shall vest in the person who found or saved the property, unless the property was found in the course of employment by an employee of any public agency, in which case the property shall be sold at public auction.

C. Exception – Bicycle. If the found or saved property is a bicycle, if no owner appears and proves ownership of the bicycle within 90 days, the title shall not vest in the person who found or saved the bicycle. All such unclaimed bicycles shall be sold at public auction or donated for charitable purposes pursuant to this chapter. (Ord. 3455 § 1, 2019; Ord. 2657 § 3, 1995; Ord. 2506 § 1, 1992; Ord. 2147 § 1, 1986; Ord. 1766 § 1, 1977).