If a heavy duty rubber band was looped around each item, it could easily be hung up on the panel. To increase the volume, an additional piece of plywood could also be placed in the center of the shelving unit, possibly hinged to open like a door. This storage solution was described and plans were provided in the Evidence Log , Volume 97, No. 1. Bicycles Another issue related to labor intensive storage is that of bicycles. Efficient storage is almost impossible, and it is not unusual for a damage claim to be filed against a department related to damage alleged to have occurred to expensive mountain or racing bicycles while they were in police custody.
Exterior storage is common, but leaves the risk of damage to the bikes from exposure to the weather.
Generally speaking Found Property and Property for Safekeeping items should be returned to the owners as quickly as possible, and almost all of the bicycles fall in these categories. The trick is to keep the inventory constantly rotating. Interior storage would be preferable to avoid potential liability for damage to the bikes from weather exposure. Whether inside or out, consider the use of hooks on an overhead pipe from which to hang bicycles to maximize space efficiency. Review should be considered of old criminal cases in which a bicycle was taken as evidence.