MIA Holds "Lost & Found" Auction Saturday
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – If you're planning to do some shopping this weekend you may want to skip the mall, and instead head to the airport because the Miami Aviation Department is holding its semi-annual lost and found public auction this Saturday.
The casualties of tens of thousands of people's rushed forgetfulness could be your golden ticket.
These are the treasures and trinkets that were lost, forgotten, or abandoned at Miami International Airport in the last five months.
More than 400 items up for bid include sporting equipment, laptop computers, iPads, digital music players, cellular phones, digital cameras, CD and DVD players and jewelry.
"It's exciting and people are looking to get good buys," explained auctioneer Paul May.
From paintings to strollers to musical instruments, there's something for everyone at this auction.
One of the biggest gambles in buying the lost and found loot are the suitcases. Hundreds are up for auction, but there's a catch. Bidders are not allowed to open them to see what's inside.
The biggest suitcase score auctioneer Paul May knows of came several years ago when a man found 10,000 dollars worth of British pounds inside.
If you'd rather see what your buying, there are lots of other options but remember, all electronics are sold as is.
"They've all been left somewhere in the terminal. Whether or not people leave them on purpose, or they forget them but they're left. We hold them for 60 days and after that, it's fair game," said MIA's Mark Henderson.
The money made at the auction will go to Miami-Dade's Aviation Department to maintain the airport.
The auction will be held at 5600 N.W. 36th Street, Building 845, Third Floor.
Auction attendees will be allowed to preview auction items on Saturday from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. before the auction begins at 10:00 a.m. Only cash will be accepted.
Admission is $3 and children under 12 are free.
