State Treasurer Riley Moore today announced the Huntington Police Department will receive an unclaimed property check worth more than $21,000 from the Office’s Firearms Auction held in September.

“I am proud my Office’s firearms auction will benefit the brave men and women of the Huntington Police Department who work to protect our communities every day,” Treasurer Moore said. “My Office continues to shatter monthly records in unclaimed property returns to individuals, businesses and other organizations.”

The Huntington Police Department’s unclaimed property check, valued at $21,441.25, will be used to purchase new safety equipment and other supplies.

“The Huntington Police Department extends our sincere gratitude to the West Virginia State Treasurer's Office for their invaluable assistance in converting unclaimed property from our evidence inventory into crucial funding,” Huntington Police Chief Phil Watkins said. “This check for $21,000 from the West Virginia State Treasurer's Office will allow us to acquire essential equipment and supplies that would otherwise be beyond our financial reach.”

Chief Watkins said, in the past, these funds have enabled the department to purchase vehicles and conduct critical tests for criminal investigations.

“We look forward to continuing our partnership with the WV State Treasurer's Office in the years to come, further enhancing our capabilities,” Chief Watkins said. “Thank you for your ongoing support in helping us lift up our team members, who will undoubtedly do the same for one another.”

Treasurer Moore recently announced that his Office’s firearms auction in September raised more than $176,000 to benefit the 18 participating law enforcement agencies, including the Huntington Police Department – upholding the previous record of more than $141,000 raised during the March 2023 firearms auction.

There were more than 300 lots consisting of 627 firearms and 300 pounds of ammunition up for bid, making it the largest inventory for the firearms auction in Office history. 

The Treasurer’s Office set a new monthly record for the highest amount of unclaimed property returned to individuals, businesses and organizations in September. The Office’s Unclaimed Property Division returned nearly $6.2 million to rightful owners during the month.

“Since the fiscal year began on July 1, my Office’s Unclaimed Property Division has returned more than $4.3 million to rightful owners,” Treasurer Moore said. “I want to encourage individuals and other organizations to keep checking our unclaimed property database because you never know if there may be unclaimed funds in your name.”

For more information about the unclaimed property program or to find out if the Office is holding any money for you or your family, visit www.WVUnclaimedProperty.gov.

What is Unclaimed Property?

Unclaimed property can include financial accounts or items of value in which the owner has not initiated any activity for one year or longer. Common examples include unpaid life insurance benefits, forgotten bank accounts and unused rebate cards. (While the title includes the word “property,” it does not however include real estate.)

West Virginia’s unclaimed property laws protect the public by ensuring money and property owed to them is returned to them, rather than remaining permanently with financial institutions, business associations, governments and other entities. The Treasurer seeks to reunite the unclaimed property, including uncashed paychecks, stocks, or safe deposit box contents, with its owner.

Nationwide, nearly 33 million people in the United States – one in every 10 – are estimated to have unclaimed property available for them to claim.

How Can I Find Unclaimed Property in My Name? 

West Virginians searching for lost financial assets can go to www.WVUnclaimedProperty.gov. In addition to finding property, the website will also help you track a claim.

A demonstration of how to use the Unclaimed Property search site is available on the Treasury’s YouTube page, at: https://youtu.be/K09yQ7YNKlE.

To search for lost financial assets outside West Virginia, visit www.MissingMoney.com.