The police department or sheriff’s department may sell such property by public auction, in the manner and upon the notice of sale of personal property under execution, if it is a thing which is commonly the subject of sale, when the owner cannot, with reasonable diligence, be found, or, being found, refuses upon demand to pay the lawful charges provided by Sections 2080 and 2080.1, in the following cases:
(1) When the thing is in danger of perishing, or of losing the greater part of its value; or,
(2) When the lawful charges provided by Sections 2080 and 2080.1 amount to two-thirds of its value.
(Repealed and added by Stats. 1967, Ch. 1512.)