Property collected as evidence, recovered from any source, or turned over as found property for safekeeping, is stored in the Property and Evidence Room.
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​The Property Division can ONLY release property when a Property Release Form is authorized by a police officer or detective from the division investigating your case.  You can contact either prior to contacting the property room for property release approval.

Citizens can make an appointment with Property and Evidence BEFORE arriving to pick up property items, in order to ensure that someone is available to help. To schedule an appointment to pick up property, you can call the office and leave a message or email.  The message should include your name, phone number, case report number, and property description and you will be contacted to schedule an appointment to pick up your property.

Release of Property/Evidence

Items are booked into Property & Evidence under 3 different categories:
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Evidence – Items collected in connection with a crime. Evidence is retained until a final disposition has been administered by the court (conviction, dismissal, etc.) involving all parties charged in that case. Evidence can only be released with a certified copy of a County Court order, Motion to Restore.

​Safekeeping – Items taken and stored with the intent to return property to its rightful owner. For instance, if you have a medical emergency while riding your bicycle and have to be transported by ambulance to the hospital, Officers will secure your bicycle in Property & Evidence under the heading of safekeeping. In order to pick up your property, the Officer must first complete a Property Release Form. Items held for safekeeping will only be retained for 90 days, after which they can be destroyed or auctioned.

Found—Items found or abandoned. For items with no known owner, found/abandoned items can be destroyed or auctioned after 30 days of no inquiry. For items found with a known owner (Credit Card, Driver’s License, etc.), found/abandoned items can be destroyed after 90 days of no inquiry. If a last known address is located for the owner of a found item, a certified letter is sent for notification.
 
How can I find out if you are holding my property?
 
When calling to see if the Property Room is holding your property, the following information is needed when researching your case:

• Humble Police Department’s Case Number
• Date of Offense
• Description of the Property
• Arresting Officer

 
 
How to Retrieve Property:

Prior to your arrival, contact the Property Room via phone or email to set up an appointment time.  Be sure to have a date and time in mind when making an appointment that you can make it to the Property Room. If you fail to show up at the designated appointment time, there is no guarantee an officer or technician will be able to assist you.  You must have the following items ready to present when picking up property:

1. State or Government issued Driver’s License or Identification Card
2. Proof of Ownership
3. Disposition Paperwork from Court, if picking up evidence
4. Motion to Restore Orders signed by the Judge presiding over you case, if picking up evidence

To mitigate appointment time, email requested documents to the address above. 
 
Steps to Pick Up Property:
 

• You must first make contact with an officer or detective from the concerned division to determine whether the property is authorized for release. (Generally, authorization comes from a court or the investigator when the property is no longer necessary for law enforcement purposes.)

• The Property Release Form MUST BE COMPLETED and SIGNED by the investigator from the concerned division prior to picking up property. Once the form is completed and signed, it is given to the citizen or emailed to the Property Division. 
• Property Division Personnel do not have the authority to release any property unless steps 1 and 2 are completed.

• You MUST have current identification such as:
  1. Any government ID, including official Police ID
  2. State Issued ID (ex., Driver’s License or ID Card)
  3. Student ID
  4. Passports
  5. Inmate ID
  6. If you do not have an ID, we will accept the Property Release Record with authorization from the investigating division stating they have verified your identity. The statement “no identification” must be written on the release form by the authorizing division.
• Additional steps are required for picking up firearms. See below.

 
Claiming Firearms

The release of firearms is governed by how the weapon is classified: Evidence, Safekeeping or Safeguard. If you're uncertain as to the classification assigned to your property, check with the officer or detective who is handling your case. If you need more information regarding the release of firearms and weapons, contact the Property Room.
 
All persons entering the Property Room to claim a firearm are subject to a background check for prior felony convictions. Firearms may not be released to a convicted felon. If there is any question about the adjudication of a charge(s), the weapon will not be released until the issue is resolved.

Release of Firearms

The process for releasing a firearm varies depending on why it is being held. The following is a list of required documentation needed based on why it is being held:

• Firearm being held as Evidence:
  • A certified copy of a County Court Order granting release of evidence
• Firearm being held for Safekeeping:
  • A Property Release Form (submitted by the Officer or Detective)
  • Proof of ownership i.e. a receipt or bill of sale. If this cannot be produced, a notarized statement must be completed certifying ownership.

Firearms may not be released to a convicted felon. If there is any question about the adjudication of a charge(s), the weapon will not be released until the issue is resolved.
 

• Firearm being held for Safeguard pursuant to Section 573.001 of the Texas Health and Safety Code and Article 18.191 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure:
  • If you are the owner of the firearm and you were detained under this section, the following is required before release:
    1. Authorization from Humble Police;
    2. Disposition of Release from an Officer verifying firearm eligibility;
    3. Proof of ownership i.e. a receipt or bill of sale. If proof of ownership cannot be produced, a notarized statement must be completed certifying ownership.
• If you are the owner of the firearm and you were detained under this section, you also have the option to release the weapon to a designee. However, the following forms will need to be completed and notarized by both the owner and designee before firearms can be released:
  • Release of Property to Designee & Ownership Affidavit
  • Firearm Designee Affidavit
  • A Disposition for Release must also be filled out by an Officer to determine firearm eligibility
• If you are the owner of a firearm that was seized from someone detained under this section, the following is required before release:
• Disposition of Release from Officer verifying possession of firearm eligibility
• Proof of ownership and notarization of this form: Safeguard Ownership

 

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Property Room FAQ

Can someone other than myself pick up my property?

Yes, however that person must have signed written authorization from you (naming that person as the recipient) to pick up your property. Your signature MUST be notarized. The recipient must also show a valid photo ID to retrieve your property.

I've been notified that you have property of mine and I no longer want it. What should I do?

Just send us a letter stating that you no longer want the property and we will dispose of the items for you. If the item is sold at auction, you are not entitled to any of the proceeds.

How do I obtain a court order for release of a firearm?

A private attorney can arrange for a court order, or you can contact the Clerk of the Courts office at the Harris County Courthouse and request a Demand for Hearing packet. Once the packet is filled out and returned, the Clerk's office will schedule a date for a hearing. For more information, see the Clerk of the Court's website.
 
Contact Information:
Phone: (281) 446 –7127  Ext: 1470
Email: propertydivision@humblepolice.com
 
Humble Police Department Property Room
305 Bender Ave.
Humble, TX 77338
Public access is on right side of building in alcove.