The New Ulm Police Department is currently holding 18 bicycles and three scooters that have been recovered at various locations throughout the city. Recently the bikes and scooters were declared surplus property by the city and will be sold as auction. Submitted photo

NEW ULM – The New Ulm Police Department’s (NUPD) collection of recovered bicycles and three scooters was declared surplus property by the city council Tuesday.

The collection included 18 bikes and three scooters that were recovered by police at various locations around New Ulm.

Police Chief David Borchert said the bikes are recovered year-round, but most are found during the summer.

Borchert said the police do make an attempt to locate the rightful owners of the bikes and scooters by cross-referencing the vehicles with any theft or missing property reports.

None of the 18 bicycles and three scooters matched any theft report.

“I think most of the bikes are abandoned,” Borchert said. “Many of them are in poor quality when we find them. I think most were owners just gave them up.”

Several of the recovered bikes are older or missing parts. One of the bikes has no wheels, another is missing its seat.

Though many of the bikes are likely abandoned, the police department typically holds onto the bikes as long as possible, but storage is an issue.

With the council approval to declare the bikes and scooters surplus property, the NUPD can begin advertising them on MN Bid to auction the property. Any funds received will be turned over to New Ulm’s finance office.

Typically, the city does not receive too much money from the sale of the bikes. Much of the property will be sold off for scrap or extra parts.

Borchert said that in the past, the department has partnered with different organizations and donated the surplus bikes as part of a giveaway program.

“I’d loved to do that again,” Borchert said.

Borchert said if an individual is missing a bicycle, he encouraged them to check with the police department, but said it is rare for anyone to claim a recovered bike. He estimated that 10% of bikes recovered are returned to their owners.