DAYTON -- The key to solving crimes is evidence, and Dayton Police collect a lot of it.
"It is one of the most important rooms here at the Dayton Police Department, but no one really ever sees it. Today, we got some inside access to the Dayton Property Room," said Reporter Jackie Couture.
"Here's my collection of dolly's that have been used in some type of crime... a pillar jack that was found," said Sergeant Jeffrey Yaney. He manages the place.
"There's all car parts, bumpers... pieces of cars from hit and run. Um, grow lights from drug operations. We have a cart here being used to burn the rubber insulation off of copper wires."
There is never a dull moment. Inside you can find bikes, TVs, cash registers, electronics, and beer kegs to name a few.
"It's always interesting here, yes... This is a warehouse where people bring you stuff you don't know you're necessarily gonna get," said Yaney.
All the items are entered into the computer, then tagged and stored. Once evidence is processed at the crime lab, it sits while the trial proceeds, and the appeals process is completed.
Rows and rows of evidence -- and weapons take up about a third of one room. Shelves of guns - some of them found; but most used in or found during a crime.
"We've got a fine selection of crowbars here, too. They come in all the time from people prying doors open. Yeah some type of sword of some type."
Then there's the found property. It's all sorts of items that people turn into the police, but no one comes to claim them. For the stuff that's still worth something: it's sold on PropertyRoom.com. The rest of it's recycled. The department brings in about $15,000 a year that goes back into city's coffers.
The strangest item we located was a stripper pole, apparently it was seized from a burglary.
"People just bring you stuff and you never know what you're going to get," said Yaney.
"It is one of the most important rooms here at the Dayton Police Department, but no one really ever sees it. Today, we got some inside access to the Dayton Property Room," said Reporter Jackie Couture.
"Here's my collection of dolly's that have been used in some type of crime... a pillar jack that was found," said Sergeant Jeffrey Yaney. He manages the place.
"There's all car parts, bumpers... pieces of cars from hit and run. Um, grow lights from drug operations. We have a cart here being used to burn the rubber insulation off of copper wires."
There is never a dull moment. Inside you can find bikes, TVs, cash registers, electronics, and beer kegs to name a few.
"It's always interesting here, yes... This is a warehouse where people bring you stuff you don't know you're necessarily gonna get," said Yaney.
All the items are entered into the computer, then tagged and stored. Once evidence is processed at the crime lab, it sits while the trial proceeds, and the appeals process is completed.
Rows and rows of evidence -- and weapons take up about a third of one room. Shelves of guns - some of them found; but most used in or found during a crime.
"We've got a fine selection of crowbars here, too. They come in all the time from people prying doors open. Yeah some type of sword of some type."
Then there's the found property. It's all sorts of items that people turn into the police, but no one comes to claim them. For the stuff that's still worth something: it's sold on PropertyRoom.com. The rest of it's recycled. The department brings in about $15,000 a year that goes back into city's coffers.
The strangest item we located was a stripper pole, apparently it was seized from a burglary.
"People just bring you stuff and you never know what you're going to get," said Yaney.