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Metro Airport Holds 'Lost & Found' Auction

DETROIT (WWJ) - Ever wonder what happens to the thousands of items left at the airport?  Well, now is your time to cash in at the yearly auction.

Mike Conway, Spokesman for Detroit Metro Airport, spoke with WWJ's Kathryn Larson about what passengers usually leave behind in the terminal.

"A lot of laptops, electronics including cellphones, walkmans... things like that," Conway said.

Besides those treasures are gold jewelry, priceless gems and even a diamond ring.

-View photos of auction items-

"In fact, one of the pendants that's in the auction is a Saint Christopher medal, which is, in popular catholic culture, the patron saint of travelers. So, we've got just about a little bit of everything," Conway said.

According to Conway, the airport staff does everything in their power to return the items to their owners, but sometimes it's nearly impossible.

"And if it's a laptop, a lot of times they're successful, or a cell phone... they can go through the address list there and find the owner and contact them and let them know that they left it at the airport. But if it's a ring, or a pendant, a bracelet or a watch, it's really hard to identify that owner," Conway said.

He said there is an option on their website where you can describe your lost item and they'll try to get it back to you, but most people don't use that service.

Also up for auction is surplus equipment such as industrial lawn mowers, luggage waggons, raw construction materials and vehicles. Click here to preview a list of items.

Conway said you can buy the goods for pennies on the dollar at the auction next Saturday, June 18 at the former Berry International Building (Building 501).

Auction items will be available for public viewing at the site starting at 8:00 am with the auction beginning at 10:00 am. Free parking will be available immediately outside the auction site in designated lots.

A 10% buyer's fee and 6% Michigan sales tax will apply to all purchases. All items must be paid in full on auction day by cash, check, MasterCard, VISA or Discover.

All items are "as-is," "where-is," and all sales are final. Winning bidders will be expected to claim their items and remove them from airport property, at their own expense at the time of sale, or on Monday, June 20 between 8:00 am and 2:30 pm.

For more information, click here.

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