High rollers buy unclaimed bikes at U. Police auction

Three bicycle seats, a few flat tires and a loud purple 12-speed Free Spirit were among the more than 30 items auctioned off by University Police in Superblock this weekend. More than 75 bidders and onlookers were on hand for the 13th Annual University Police Auction Saturday morning in front of High Rise North. The crowd was stunned early when Engineering graduate student Keith Campbell purchased two of the first three bicycles to come up on the block. Campbell's bought lot numbers 13 and 33 -- one a red and white 12-speed Huffy, the other a bicycle missing a wheel -- for a total of $50. But Campbell said he thinks he got a good deal, adding that he is not concerned about the bicycle's missing wheel. "I have a wheel at home," he said. "And I have a wheel on the other bike I just bought." But not everybody thought they came away with a steal. Fine Arts graduate student Lorraine McVey said she overpaid when she spent $95 on a used Red Roadmaster-Trail Blazer. "I definitely spent too much," McVey said. "I feel that I got caught up [in the bidding]. "And I know nothing about bikes," she added. "This is going to end up costing me more than $95." University Police Detective Supervisor Michael Carroll said the bicycles that were auctioned off were recovered by University Police. They were never claimed after all reasonable attempts were made to locate the owners, he said. "Bikes are found on campus either abandoned, unsecured, or dropped by thieves or criminals and unclaimed," said Carroll, who also served as auctioneer. "Somebody will ride up on a bike, see a nice one, and ride off with it." Carroll said the recovered bicycles are temporarily stored at University Police Headquarters. There is not enough space at the location to permanently house the bicycles. "We have no storage facilities," Carroll said. "[The bicycles] just clutter the place up." The sometimes fierce bidding started at $5 and escalated to more than $200. Perhaps the most cut-throat competition was over a black/grey Giant mountain bicycle, which was considered by some bidders to be the best one at the auction. The winner was Peter Eleey of Bala Cynwyd, who beat out all competitors with a bid of $220. Eleey said he got a "fairly good deal," even though he paid the most for any bicycle at the auction. "I was hoping the other guy would have said $225 at the end," Eleey said. "I wouldn't have gone any higher." Eleey said his buying strategy was pretty spur-of-the-moment. "I didn't jump in till it got to $70," Eleey said. "I was going to stop at [$200] but I kept going because the other guy really wanted it." In addition to the bicycles and various parts being auctioned off, University Police also sold bicycle and car steering wheel locks. Carroll said all proceeds from the auction will go to the University.