Section 45-27-231.23
Notice and sale of stolen or abandoned property.
(a) As often as necessary, the sheriff may sell at public auction or by Internet auction to the highest bidder all abandoned or stolen personal property, other than firearms, which has been recovered by the sheriff's office and has remained unclaimed by the rightful owner for at least a six-month period.
(b) The sheriff shall take reasonable efforts to locate the owner of abandoned or stolen personal property recovered by the sheriff's office, including notifying the sheriff's offices of surrounding counties if the property is deemed to be a family heirloom or to be of substantial value.
(c) Prior to the sale, notice shall be given by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in Escambia County once a week for two successive weeks or by posting notice in a conspicuous place at the Escambia County Courthouse for a period of at least 20 days. If publication of notice is made in the newspaper, the first notice shall run at least 20 days prior to the auction. The notice shall contain the place, date, and time of each auction and a general description of items of personal property to be sold at the auction.
(Act 2021-142, §4.)