Some unique items cause a storage problem. With that dilemma several questions come to mind. If I put it in the property room, will it spoil? Will it take up to much space? Or maybe, can I keep it alive until the owner retrieves it? Keep it alive! 

There is a question of great importance. What could one take into property that would be alive?  One case in point might be ... An ostrich egg! Ever though about it? I never did until I saw an ostrich farm close to our city. 

It was relayed to me that the average price of an ostrich egg is fifteen hundred dollars. ($1,500) That's right, fifteen hundred dollars. We all had items worth way more than that in our storage areas. But alive! 

In today's time anything and everything can be stolen and at any time. If the word got out as to the value of such a thing, someone somewhere would want to steal it. Would they find a buyer? Probably not. So then what would happen to it? If they didn't destroy it, the property officer would inherit an ostrich egg in his property room. With the value of such an item being so expensive and possibly fertile. I would say it was alive! 

To try to solve my problem, I would look in the telephone directory under Ostrich farms. My luck again, it wouldn't be listed. My second guess would be to send an officer or personally go to the only ostrich farm that I know of in existence. If my luck continued to run its course, no one would be around to give them their egg. I wouldn't be able to just leave it with the other ostriches because they wouldn't be able to sign for it. You know how we are all alike when it comes to signing property out. If it goes into our property room, it's ours. We want to keep it! To set on our shelves forever and a day. To look at and keep. Sorry, I got carried away, back to the ostrich egg. It would probably be safer around other big birds than in my property room, but then again; do these big birds take care of other eggs like some species do or would they just eat or step on it! Decision time again! No signature, no egg - easy decision. I guess I would just have to back up and punt. But not the ostrich egg! 

On a serious note, if I couldn't contact the owner I would make due the best way I could. First I would wrap the egg up to keep it warm then contact the nearest zoo or farm hatchery. If necessary I would hand carry the egg to them. I'm sure either one would sign for it. The chances are that it would no longer be able to hatch, however, we should make an attempt for the property owner. 

As funny as this might seem, it could happen. I never gave it a thought until I read an article in our local paper regarding this unique business of raising ostriches. I didn't even think about writing an article on the subject until I stumbled upon the ostrich farm myself. For the officers who live in a rural area, finding valuable live animals is not so far fetched. Most can be returned to the owner or taken to a stock yard and be considered safe. Cow and horse rustling is really not a thing of the past either, it still happens in some parts of the country to this day. 

Like our street experiences, something new can always happen. The only difference between the older experienced officers and our rookie brothers, is we have learned to expect the unexpected and adapt to the situation at hand.

Unique situations and experiences are always fun for the reader. Not only does it make one reflect upon his own experiences, it gives the reader something to think about and what could happen to them. The old saying it could never happen to me is not always correct. Just look at your own funny or sad experiences you had to deal with since you have been assigned to the property and evidence section of your department. It can happen to you!