How Do I Retrieve My Property?

The Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department Property and Evidence Division is responsible for the intake and preservation of evidence that is collected related to investigations conducted with in our jurisdiction. Each year the Division takes in more than 100,000 items. In addition we also take in found property that officers come across in their daily activities.

Property and Evidence Division Hours
Citizens will receive a letter from the police department when their property is ready to be returned. When you receive this letter please read it thoroughly and follow the directions provided.

The following is additional information that will help you navigate the retrieval of your property.

As custodians of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Departments Property and Evidence we can only release property to rightful owners once the assigned investigator has authorized us to do so. If you come to Police Headquarters and the investigator assigned to your case has not authorized the release we will not be able to return your property.

Things you need to bring

• Government issued picture Id
• Letter you received from the Property and Evidence Division (if you have it)

Firearms
The firearm return process may take 6 to 12 more months to complete. There are several steps to releasing of a firearm(s). Once a firearm is deemed ready to return to owner, the owner will receive a letter indicating the start of the firearm return process. The letter will include instructions to call or email the Property and Evidence Division. YOU MUST call 704-336-2378 or email, cmpdproperty@cmpd.org, to start the return process before coming to the police department. A criminal background check will be conducted, then a Firearm Release appointment will be setup before the release of any firearm. You MUST have an appointment scheduled for the return of a firearm. A property technician will work with you to make sure all necessary steps have been completed to secure the release of the firearm(s). Firearms will be forfeited/disposed in ninety (90) days from the date of the first notice in accordance with North Carolina Statue 15-12 if CMPD is not contacted.


Money
All money turned into CMPD is deposited into a bank account. Money is only released to an owner once the assigned investigator has associated the money to an authorized owner. Once the owner receives the letter they should contact the Property and Evidence Division to start the return process. Please be aware that this process can take between 3-4 week and only begins once the owner contacts the Property and Evidence Division indicating they want their money returned to them. 


FAQ
What if I did not receive a letter?
If you feel that you have property in the custody of the Charlotte Police Department Property and Evidence Division that you have a right to and have not received a letter please contact us and we will let you know if we have the property and if we do what steps need to be taken to return it to you.


How long will you hold my property?
Once we send you a letter you have 70 days to contact the Property and Evidence Division indicating you want your property returned to you. Firearms are held for 180 days. After these time frames have expired the property is either destroyed or sent to auction.


Unclaimed Property
Unclaimed property is property that is ready to return to the owner but the owner is unknown.
The state of North Carolina requires that we advertise unclaimed firearms for 30 days before we dispose of it.
If after reviewing the unclaimed property lists you determine something listed is yours, please call 704-336-2870.

Unclaimed Property Listings

• Unclaimed Property Listing for the current month(PDF, 770KB)
• Unclaimed Firearms and Other Accessories Listing for the current month(PDF, 9MB)
• Unclaimed Long Barrel Firearms and Other Accessories Listing for the current month(PDF, 459KB)