Posted on April 8, 2010 by Valerie Hoff in Money, VALues
Having avoided crime reporting like the plague throughout my reporting career, I had never been inside the Atlanta Police Department’s Property Control Unit until Thursday. It is a warehouse ( in an undisclosed location) packed with televisions, computers, clothing, cell phones, tools and thousands of other items that have been stolen or are being held as evidence in pending court cases. There were even a few ATM’s!
Some of the items are later claimed by their rightful owners but thousands of others are auctioned off on propertyroom.com, a website started by a former police officer in 1999. The site, which is based in California, features items from thousands of law enforcement agencies across the U.S.
Propertyroom.com is similar to EBay but the payment system is different. Those who bid must register a credit card number first and the high bidder’s credit card is automatically billed. The website keeps a portion of the proceeds and returns the rest to the law enforcement agency.
Browsing through the site, I saw some pretty amazing deals on jewelry in particular as well as electronics and tools. But I also felt a little bad; I mean, most of this stuff was stolen from people who, for whatever reason, never got it back. It reminds me of the old “it fell of a truck” type of sale we used to see before internet sales became popular. Still, buying on propertyroom.com is perfectly legal; a judge has to approve each sale. And Lt. Van Hobbs, who oversees the unit, tells me Georgia law prohibits donating evidence items to charity (like the thousands of kids’ bikes stolen each year.)
The stolen property is sold at auction only after it has been in the property unit for 90 days and all attempts to contact the rightful owner have been exhausted, including a public notice in a local newspaper.
Each listing on propertyroom.com indicates the condition of the item. Some fine jewelry pieces even have appraisals. Sales are final in most cases.
Hobbs said if a crime victim spots their own stolen property on propertyroom.com and can prove it, it will be returned to them. The website also has a section where people can register the serial numbers of their computer, television and other household items. That way if their items are stolen and later end up on propertyroom.com the company will match up the serial numbers and return them to the original owner.
I wonder if many of the crime victims whose property is on the site got their insurance money and moved on?
Anyway, buying stolen property is legal and can be a bargain. (Buyer beware obviously) It is a bit icky, perhaps, but I’m tempted to browse and check it out. Before the story airs at 11pm.
Posted on April 4, 2010 by Valerie Hoff in Money, VALues
There are plenty of bargains to be found around metro atlanta this week. Too many to count, but here are some of my favorites.
BJ’s Wholesale Club is offering 11Alive viewers a free 60 day pass that can be activated any time before July 5th. BJ’s is the only warehouse club that accepts manufacturer coupons. They also carry clothing lines like Calvin Klein and Nicole Miller. Click here for the 60 day pass. I have always wanted to check it out! I used to belong to another warehouse club but didn’t seem to shop there very often so I didn’t renew my membership.
K&G Fashion Superstore has added some high end lines like Prada, Gucci and Armani priced at up to 70 percent off retail. (From Jessicashops.com) I am sooo there!
Atlanta based Carter’s and Oshkosh children’s retailers are now selling online at carters.com. Discounts are available to those who sign up on their Facebook page.
IKEA has lowered prices on furniture, cookware and hundreds of others items from this same time last year.
Fernbank Museum of Natural History’s buy one get one free ticket deal ends Sunday, April 4th but through April t 18th there is a Spring Break special: $5 off two tickets, or $10 off on a Value Pass for admission to the Museum and Imax Theatre. Normally Adult tickets are $15 and tickets for children 3-12 are $13. Visitors should ask for the Spring Break Special.
On Monday, Scoutmob will have a downloadable coupon for 50 percent off your entire purchase at Sam Flax Art Supply stores. Maximum discount is $25.00 off of $50.00.
Also this week ,Strawberries are a HUGE bargain at Publix: 4 for $5.00. And look for Easter Candy and baskets to go on sale everywhere! Grab your coupons and stock up! Check expiration dates on the bags and throw some in your freezer. My kids’ Easter baskets were full of clearance candy from Christmas and Valentine’s supplemented with Jelly Beans and Chocolate Bunnies. I spent around $5.00 total.
Posted on March 19, 2010 by Valerie Hoff in Money, VALues
Local companies are celebrating spring with Sweet Treats all over town!
Aunt Kimmie’s Creations in Roswell is offering a free cookie when you buy a beverage and mention 11 Alive Ways to Save. The store is located at 1055 Canton Street in Historic Roswell.
Rita’s Italian Ice locations are offering free Italian ice on Saturday, March 20th. There is a location at Underground Atlanta and many others in the metro area.
Yoforia Yogurt at 3079 Windward Parkway in Alpharetta is also giving away free yogurt Saturday March 20th starting at noon.
And on March 23rd, Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream stores across the country will be celebrating spring with Free Ice Cream Cone Day.
March 23rd is also Free Pastry Day at Starbucks. Customers are required to buy a beverage and print out a coupon on Starbucks.com
Dinnergarden.org is a non profit that gives away free vegetable seeds. Gardeners can sign up for the freebie on the site. That deal comes from AttentionTargetShoppers.com
Kids can learn to make a bird feeder at the Lakeshore Learning Store on Roswell Road in Marietta on Saturday. The store has store has free craft projects for kids most weekends.
For the grownups there’s a Martha Stewart Painting Class at Home Depot on April 15th. It’s is part of the Do It Herself Workshop Series.
Two more weeks remain of free Tax Help at Clayton State University, on March 20th and 27th. The assistance comes from Business school students who have studied the new tax laws. Assistance is available from 9am to 1pm in the School of Business Building. Those seeking assistance must have an income of under $49.000 per year. Taxpayers can also call (678)466-4527.
Posted on February 22, 2010 by Matt Pearl in Olympics
For just two days, I wish I could be back in Atlanta.
I’m not homesick, and I’m certainly not tired of Vancouver. There’s just something big going on Monday and Tuesday that I wish I could see with my own eyes.
Back in December I received a wonderful opportunity to follow a young local woman named Courtney as she flew to Los Angeles to meet an older man named Scott — a man whose lived she had saved a year earlier.
Scott was battling leukemia, had undergone chemotherapy, and had been placed on the bone marrow registry. Out of the 13 million people on the registry, Courtney was the only perfect match.
She donated, and she saved Scott’s life. On the weekend I followed them in December, Courtney and Scott got to meet each other for the first time.
Tonight on 11Alive News at 11:00, you’ll be able to see their story.
I learned so much from talking with and watching these two, but I think more than anything I came away with a renewed belief in what we as individuals can accomplish. I mean, Courtney’s bone marrow donation was a relatively simple process — much easier than the invasive surgeries of the past — and in taking part, she may have added years to Scott’s life. It’s inspiring because it’s so easy, and you can’t tell me one person can’t make a legitimate difference when you see the effects of what she did.
Courtney, meanwhile, continues to make a difference. Since her own donation, she has become extremely active in expanding the bone marrow registry list; she has organized several bone marrow drives, one of which will take place this Tuesday at Discover Mills Mall. I encourage you to attend and, more importantly, sign up; I have done it, and I only hope that one day I can be someone’s else perfect match and give the same gift that Courtney gave to Scott.
And in the meantime, I hope you get as much out of watching their story as I got from doing it.
Posted on February 9, 2010 by Matt Pearl in Olympics
One of my former co-workers in Buffalo is very fond of the following expression when someone leaves for an extended period of time: “This isn’t goodbye; it’s more like, ‘See ya later’!”
(I actually think she stole this from an episode of Fresh Prince of Bel Air – go to 3:35 in the clip – but that’s besides the point …)
Anyway, it’s with that sentiment that I thought about what I am going to miss while in Vancouver for the Olympics. It’s not “Goodbye” to Atlanta for sure; it’s only a three-week “See ya later”, which means the things I’m going to miss are more impulse-based than anything else. If I was leaving for good, I’d talk about the people and the greenery and the wide variety of neighborhoods in Atlanta. But I’ll see all these things — and people — again pretty shortly.
In the meantime, here are the Top 5 Things I’ll Miss About Atlanta during these three “See ya later” weeks (assuming I have time to miss anything, what with how busy we’re going to be out there …):
5. The Hawks — Full disclosure here: I am an NBA nut and a Hawks season ticket holder. While I’m gone, one of the hottest teams in the NBA will take on the Heat, the Mavericks, and three other opponents at the Highlight Factory. The only upside? The March/April schedule is even better, with the Lakers, Spurs, and Cavs all coming to Atlanta.
And, of course, at least I’m not missing the playoffs …
4. Waffle House — Perhaps this is a strange choice to see for Atlanta lifers (or those who live in the suburbs), but I have been hooked on The House ever since I moved here ten months ago. It’s a great, tasty stop when you’re on the go, and I’ll miss it, even while enjoying the sure-to-be tremendous cuisine in Vancouver.
3. 11Alive — Yes, score one for the home team here. Let’s just say this … without giving too much away, we have some great stories lined up for February and during the Olympics.
(OK, enough shilling … moving on …)
2. The DeKalb Farmers Market — It’s one of the area’s hidden gems (if you can call a place constantly swamped with customers a hidden gem). Talk about Olympic-like: I have never seen so many foods from so many different cities and nations under one roof. I’ll miss this place immensely.
And the #1 thing I’ll miss about Atlanta while I’m gone:
1. The people! — OK, I know I said I’d only mention the people in more of a “good-bye” setting, but I must include them here. Take it from someone who’s spent most of his life in the North — Southern hospitality is beautiful and very real, and I have appreciated the warm welcome I have received throughout my first year here in Atlanta. I’ll miss it for the coming three weeks … but I’ll be back.
This will be my last entry before departing … see you in Vancouver!
Posted on December 19, 2008 by Doppler in Doppler's Blog
Doppler the Weather Dog with 11Alive's Josh Roseman
I had a nice visit at 11Alive yesterday. I got to meet all sorts of new people, and hung out with my friend Josh, who helped make my website and my blog. That’s him over on the right. It took a while to get him trained to sit and smile on command, but we pulled it off.
My friend Dennis also was on TV with me, and he talked about what to do if your friend (the one with paws, not the one with feet) has trouble doing his or her business outside. I was going to tell you about it, but instead, why don’t you just watch the video? It’s not too long. I promise.
I wish I knew more about what happened, but I decided it was more important for me to take a nap, as you could see at the end of the video.
Keep an eye on my page; Dad took a little video of me at home, learning how to not eat the Christmas decorations. We tried to post it yesterday, but it didn’t work right. Maybe Dennis can help train our computer, too.
Wow, that was great! I came to 11Alive yesterday and got to see all of my friends in the information center, and got lots and lots of people to pet me. It helps being cute.
My friend Dennis, who Dad calls my trainer, took me around on a leash to help me get used to wearing one and being a good dog. That meant no jumping up on people. I love to jump up on people, so this wasn’t so awesome, but it’s okay. If no jumping except when told is part of being a good dog, I guess I can handle that.
My friend Shawn, who’s a producer at 11Alive, took some pictures of me on his cell phone. I’m still waiting for him to send them to Dad, but when he does, they’re totally going in my official photo gallery.
I wish I could’ve run around outside, but it wasn’t going to happen. Too rainy and wet. I think I like keeping my paws dry.
Anyway, if you didn’t get to see me on TV last night, that’s okay, because Dad’s friend Josh showed me how to embed video onto my blog:
If you want to embed it, all you have to do is click the fourth icon from the left (the little picture of a piece of paper with the end folded over) and you can embed me on your blog too! Or you can e-mail me or post links on your Facebook.
Oh, that reminds me: Chris, who works on 11Alive’s website, made a Facebook group for me! If you’re on Facebook, please join it. I’m going to get on Facebook really soon, I promise, but I’ve just been so busy and haven’t had time!
Okay, that’s all for today. Have a good weekend. I know I will!
Wow, that was great! I came to 11Alive yesterday and got to see all of my friends in the information center, and got lots and lots of people to pet me. It helps being cute.