What happens to seized property that is stolen or embezzled?

When property that is stolen or embezzled is seized by law enforcement, the primary goal is to return that property to its rightful owner as quickly as possible. This is because the lawful owner is the individual who has been wronged, and returning the property helps to mitigate the loss they have suffered due to the crime.

Law enforcement agencies have a responsibility to ensure that stolen property is processed appropriately and that victims are reunited with their property when feasible. Keeping property with law enforcement indefinitely or destroying it contradicts the rights of the lawful owner. Likewise, auctioning off stolen property would be unethical since it does not address the need to restore it to its rightful owner and often would be illegal. Thus, returning the property as soon as possible aligns with both legal norms and ethical standards in dealing with stolen assets.