PHOENIX – Each year the TSA collects millions worth of confiscated and left behind items at its airport checkpoints.
Some items, mainly weapons, knifes, and guns are sold to local law enforcement, but the other items goes to public auction.
This week the Sky Harbor Airport is holding such an auction with plenty of items up for grabs.
Confiscated items include, snow globes, free weights, bowling pins, pocket knives and golf clubs.
"A passenger brought these items with them. They weren't allowed through security," Deptartment of Administration spokeswoman Elizabeth Bartholomew said.
Or they are just lost, either way TSA holds on to them for at least six months.
"All of the money that we make off of this sale, we put back into the general fund," Bartholomew said.
The items sell for anywhere from 25 cents to $120.
"We use what the market price is and then try to make it fair for a good deal," Bartholomew said.
Passengers' losses are taxpayers gain.
"It's not going to sit in a landfill. We're not going to throw it away. So you might as well sell it," Bartholomew said.
To find out when and where the next TSA auction will be held in your area, search "TSA auctions."