Recovering Property
All property is released by appointment only. Call the Property Evidence Unit at 209-668-5550 ext. 6655 for release information and appointments.- Obtain the report number or file number.
- Call the Property and Evidence Division to schedule an appointment. Appointment hours are Monday through Friday from 7:30 to 4:30pm.
- Be prepared to present photo identification at your appointment.
- If you are unable to retrieve your property and need someone else to pick it up, please prepare a signed statement giving your approval for your representative to claim your items.
What is the Role of the Police Department in Property Recovery?
The Turlock Police Department enters information about stolen property with serial numbers or engravings into a California State Law Enforcement Terminal System (CLETS) and a national computer database known as National Crime Information Center (NCIC). This information is available to federal, state and local police agencies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When an item is found, it can be "checked for stolen" through NCIC to determine if it matches any items listed in the database. If listed, contact with the rightful owner will be made.Evidence
Felony Arrest Cases
Evidence items will be held for a minimum of 60 days from the date of final disposition. If the owner does not claim the items at that time, they may be disposed of or destroyed in the manner prescribed by law.Misdemeanor Arrest Cases
Evidence will be held for 30 days from the date of sentencing and then items will be disposed of or destroyed in the manner prescribed by law.No Arrest or Suspect
If no arrest has been made and/or no suspect identified, evidence items may be held up to one year or longer depending on the status of the case.Frequently Asked Questions
If I find a bicycle and turn it in, can I later claim it?
Yes. Except for firearms and illegal items, any other property turned in as found property may be returned to the finder after 90 days. Call the Property and Evidence Division for more information.Why must I make an appointment to claim my property?
Appointments are scheduled so that a property specialist can be made available to handle your case on a one on one basis without interruption. The property specialist may be in court, transporting evidence to the Department of Justice Forensics Laboratory or may be viewing evidence with an attorney.I have a court order that requires TPD to return my property. Why do I still need an appointment?
By law, the Turlock Police Department is allowed 10 days to return property upon receipt of a court order. This allows the investigating officer to be notified of the order and to determine if the property is still needed for the investigation. If so, the investigator may contact the court and notify a judge why the property should remain in the custody of the Turlock Police Department. The judge then makes a determination whether the property should be returned or remain in police custody.Why does it take so long for me to get my property back?
Property booked in as evidence of a crime is held until the case is adjudicated. If no charges are filed, property is held until the statute of limitations has expired (3 years for most felony cases, 1 year for misdemeanor cases) or the investigator of the case authorizes the release of the property, whichever is sooner.If a firearm is among the items requested, a background investigation must be conducted by the Department of Justice in order to verify that the legal owner is eligible to possess the weapon. When we contact the Department of Justice it will most likely take 2 months to obtain clearance. There will be a $75 charge per weapon per year for storage and maintenance of each weapon.
What can I do to protect my property?
Record descriptions of your property and serial numbers and keep it in a safe place. Document antiques, collectibles, jewelry and paintings with photographs.Property and Evidence Unit
The Property and Evidence Unit is staffed by two Property and Evidence specialists, Deanna Shaw and Linda Christy.Our Property and Evidence Unit