The chance to get a hot deal on a used bike attracted about 1,400 people to the Vancouver Police Recovery Auction Saturday.
It was a whirlwind at Able Auctions in Coquitlam, as career auctioneer Wild Bill Henke guided bargain-seekers to their loot -- 700 bikes that had been stolen, then recovered by the VPD.
"I got a cross section of what [the bikes] are worth, from $100 to $4,500," Henke told CTV News from the auction floor.
It was the first day of the city's largest-ever annual police auction, which sells everything from bikes to a kitchen sink that were stolen property, recovered by police.
It's a tradition in Vancouver, and generates between $200,000 to $250,000, which all goes back to the Vancouver Police Department.
Thirteen-year-old Jacob Rommann and his dad Shane were ready to buy a bike on Saturday.
"My birthday was on the 28th of April and I got some money to go get a bike," Jacob told CTV News. "I'm trying not to spend over $150."
But as Henke called the auction, the bike Jacob had his eye on rose in price -- until it was sold for $1,750. Jacob and his dad started to look for plan B.
With a little help from his dad, the boy scored a new bike for $500. "It's a good bike," said Jacob.
There were so many bikes that organizers dedicated Saturday a bikes-only day -- and customers will have to return Sunday if they want to get some of the other goods.
The vast array of other goods includes a 24-foot sailing boat, fur coats, scuba gear, electronic goods, and power tools.
Sunday's auction will also be held at the Able Auctions warehouse, 1500 Lougheed Highway, in Coquitlam. For more information, head to http://www.ableauctions.ca.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Dave Pinton
