Property and Evidence

One Property / Evidence Specialist staffs the Property and Evidence Unit of the Campbell Police Department, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The Property / Evidence Specialist is responsible for booking all found, safekeeping, and evidence items brought into the police department. The property is stored until it can be returned to the legal owner, until the case has been adjudicated in court, or until the statute of limitations has expired. Items stored include bicycles, firearms, money, drugs, backpacks, checks, credit cards, audio and video equipment, furniture, computers, biological material, hazardous materials, and a variety of other items.

Property is released to the rightful owner or their designee by appointment only with photo identification (such as a driver’s license, ID card or passport) from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Mondays - Thursday.

Every reasonable effort will be made to return the property to its rightful owner. The Property / Evidence Specialist is not always in the office as time is spent at the crime lab and researching cases to determine if property may be returned. We try to respond to all phone messages and inquiries by the end of the next business day. Appointments may be scheduled by calling 408-866-2183 or by submitting the form below.

Property Inquiry Form

Notice of Sale of Various Surplus, Found, or Seized Property

Notice is hereby given that the Campbell Police Department will sell to the highest bidder various items of surplus, found, or seized property. Said sale will be conducted for the Campbell Police Department by Property Bureau Incorporated on their websites www.propertyroom.com around the 15th of each month, a minimum of three days, 24 hours a day. The Campbell Police Department makes no guarantee or warranty, express, or implied, of any nature as to the condition of the goods offered for sale.

Firearm GunsReturns

If a firearm is among the items requested, the person seeking the return of the firearms must apply to the California Department of Justice (DOJ) for a gun release eligibility request form. You may contact 916-263-4887 or go to the DOJ website for the forms and information. It is solely the person’s responsibility for filling out the proper paperwork to retrieve their firearm(s). This process may take 1-2 months depending on DOJ’s back log. If approval is granted by DOJ for the return of your firearm(s), a letter will be mailed to you and this letter will be valid for 30 days. You will be required to bring this letter to the Campbell Police Department at the time of pick up. You will also need proof of ownership and photo identification. Found firearms will not be returned.


If the property was taken under a search warrant, a court order is required to release the property.

  1. If I find a bicycle and turn it in, can I later claim it?
  2. If I find and turn in any other property (i.e. money, jewelry, etc.) may I later claim it?
  3. Why must I make an appointment to claim my property?
  4. I have a court order that requires the Campbell Police Department to return my property, why do I still need an appointment?
  5. Why does it take so long for me to get my property back?