Steals, deals up for grabs at sheriff's auction

28 vehicles, 11 laptops will be up for bid

Anyone searching for a used car, computers or stereo equipment will get the chance to buy both for cheap when the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office holds their annual auction on April 21.

There will be 28 vehicles on the block including Ford Crown Victorias, Chevy Impalas and Dodge Chargers. Most of the vehicles were used by deputies. Some of the vehicles are seizures and include a Lincoln Town Car, Toyota Camry, Nissan Frontier, Honda Accord and two Mitsubishi Galants.

Last year, most of the seized vehicles sold for around $1,000, according to Chief Civil Deputy Maisy Robicheaux. She said that vehicles that were used by deputies sold for around $1,400.

All of the vehicles at the auction have high mileage and are sold "as is, no guarantees," but maintenance personnel has information about some of the vehicles that they can pass on at the auction.

The auction also includes 11 Dell laptops, stereos, amplifiers, subwoofers, speakers, CD players and jewelry.

The event usually attracts a pretty big turnout with people coming from the surrounding areas to check out what’s available.

"There is usually around 75 to 100 people at the auction, but there are 30 to 45 registered bidders," Robicheaux said.

Years ago, the Sheriff’s Office used a sealed bid process to sell the vehicles. Robicheaux said changing it to a live auction has increased competition.

The auction will be held on April 21 at the Fleet Maintenance Facility in Killona, located at 5065 Hwy. 3127 (Lot B).

The event gets underway at 10 a.m., but anyone interested in taking a look at the vehicles and other items up for bid may do so on April 20 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Robicheaux said that fleet mechanics will be on hand to show interested bidders the vehicles.

All items can be purchased with cash or cashier’s checks. No personal or company checks without a bank letter of guarantee valid for 15 days after the auction will be accepted.

Once buyers remove vehicles they must register them in their names at the DMV and secure insurance.