Big Crowds, Small Bids at Police End-of-Year Auction

It’s that time of year again. The Queen Street Police compound is throwing open its gates for one of December’s most talked-about events, the annual end-of-year auction. It’s the day when the department clears out its lots of abandoned, impounded, and unclaimed items, and trust me, the crowd always shows up for the big-ticket draws: bicycles and motorcycles going under the hammer. Shane Williams was in the thick of it and brings us this report.

 

Shane Williams, Reporting

From commuters hunting for a cheap ride to resellers looking for parts, the auction attracts hundreds, all hoping to score a deal. This year was no exception, crowds lined up early, bidding wars broke out, and the competition was fierce as the gavel fell on every kind of two-wheeler imaginable. The auction is conducted under strict police supervision. ASP Bonifacio Rash, who oversees the event, explains how the department selects the items up for bids.

 

ASP Bonifacio Rash, Deputy, Prosecution Branch

“These items are basically from the entire country of Belize, and these items are items that have been found and items where there is no one claiming the items. And it becomes the property of the government of Belize. And when it accumulates, we do an auction sale, should be every six months, but for this year, 2025, we have only do it once, which is today. We have a quiet number of items, at least maybe six hundred, more than six hundred items. Everybody wants every something but at the end of the day, they will get something and at a reasonable price. So we try to cater for everybody.”

 

But beyond the official procedures, the real excitement is among the bidders themselves. For many, motorcycles and bicycles offer an affordable transportation option in a year where fuel prices and cost of living continue to rise. Others attend the auction to buy, repair, and resell parts, a small business opportunity that has grown alongside the event’s popularity.

 

Yeslyn, Mother

“Well this bike ya, I di get it for my baby for when she go da school. It look old and what’s not, but when I done with it, ih neem wa know that this da di bike weh I come buy for fifteen dollars right ya.” 

 

Shane Williams

“Now this da the only bike yo wa ker today?”

 

Yeslyn

“I noh too sure. I noh too sure because I just the think bout her right now.”

 

Shane Williams

“How long yo deh ya?”

 

Miss Burke, Participant

“From before they open, like after eight.”

 

Shane Williams

“After eight?”

 

Miss Burke

“Yeah they open after nine”

 

Shane Williams 

“And you plan to left with just three or yow a continue?”

 

Miss Burke

“Noh man me have bout four bike.”

 

Shane Williams

“Four bike! Weh yow a du with them bike?”

 

Miss Burke

“No, I, I use them fi parts or fix up fi people weh need, check?”

 

Shane Williams

“And you sell it?”

 

Miss Burke

“I give people. I gih people

 

Shane Williams

“How much you pay for this?”

 

Anna, Reseller

“I pay fifteen dollars fi it.”

 

Shane Williams

“And what you will do with it?”

 

Anna

“I’ll fix it up and sell ah and make more offa it.”

 

Shane Williams

“How much you plan fi sell this fa?”

 

Anna

“Oh, I noh know bout that yet. When ah done fix it up ah wa put the price.”

 

Shane Williams

“Now. How much, how much bike yo get soh far?”

 

Anna

“This da the first one.”

 

Shane Williams

“Yo done?”

 

Anna

“No, I just start.”

 

Shane Williams

Tell wi bout this bike ya. Why you pick this one?

 

Aiden

I just pick it because I mi want fix it up and ride it.

 

Shane Williams

“You wa use it or you wa sell it?”

 

Aiden

“I mussy wa use it then sell it.”

 

According to police, the auction isn’t just about bargains, it’s a practical move to free up much-needed storage space and wrap up long-standing cases linked to seized property. For the public, though, it’s become a year-end tradition that blends opportunity with a good dose of entertainment. Shane Williams for News Five.