§ 20-1. Stolen property in possession of police department—Restoration.

(a)

When property alleged to have been stolen shall come into the possession of any of the officers of the city police department, such officer shall hold the same subject to the order of the chief of police.

(b)

Upon receiving satisfactory evidence of ownership of such property the chief of police, or the magistrate who shall take the examination of the person accused of stealing such property, may order the same to be delivered to such owner on his paying the reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the preservation of such property, to be certified by such magistrate or chief of police, which order shall entitle the owner to demand and receive such property.

(c)

If the thing stolen be a living animal or property of a perishable nature, the court or magistrate or chief of police authorized to order a restitution may order a sale thereof and the proceeds shall be applied in the same manner as hereinbefore directed in respect to such stolen property.

(d)

If the property stolen shall not have been delivered to the owner thereof, the court before which a conviction shall be had for stealing such property, or the chief of police, may, on proof of ownership, order the same to be restored to the owner on payment of the expenses incurred in the preservation thereof.

(Code 1976, § 24-1)