NIU Police went insane!

Umbrellas for two bucks, a cosmetic case loaded with make-up for a quarter, music folders with music and a music stand for five bucks, weight-training belts for $4.50, bicycles for a dollar and empty beer kegs for a buck were going, going and gone.

But the items were not straight from the factory—they were the courtesy of NIU students.

The University Police played market Saturday at the annual lost and found auction. The auction sold more than 200 items recovered by UPs during the last year.

Eighty-three bidders and scores of scavengers picking through the goods attended the auction.

“We have things that are unclaimed or that we are unable to find the rightful owner,” Lt. Ron Williams said. He said the profits go to the NIU general fund.

Williams said people tried to claim lost items at the auction.

“If that happens, I would pull it out of the auction and ask for proof of ownership,” he said. He said that no one has successfully claimed items in the more than 20 years he has run the auction.

NIU senior Alan Bank bought five beer kegs—empty ones—for a dollar each.

“I’m going to sell them back,” he said. “You can get a $4 return on it. I have to have a job somehow. Besides, it will pay for the beer I’ll drink tonight.”

Sophomore John Robinson bought a set of three watches for $45 dollars.

“A friend gave me 60 bucks and said he wanted me to buy these watches,” Robinson said.

The auction also offered 50 bicycles with or without wheels. A cross-country bike sold for $80, most were sold for less than $5, and 10 bikes did not sell at all.

Auctioneer Rex Nelson said unsold bikes will go to a mechanic who reconditions them for a charity organization.

Among the more unusual items and their prices were a 1988 NIU Marching Huskies Souvenir Album ($1), a billiard cue and case ($15), a pizza delivery bag ($1), a tricycle ($4), a 1960 class ring ($1), a pressurized soft drink dispenser (25 cents) and two car headrests (25 cents).

“This year went well. It was better than last year,” Nelson said.