Hermes and Chanel bags raise €232,000 at public prosecutor auction

A sale of designer handbags and shoes confiscated from crime suspects by the police has raised €232,000, the public prosecution department said on Wednesday.

Shoes and accessories by Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Hermes were among the dozens of items goods up for grabs in the online auction, which closed on September 18.

The most expensive item sold was a Hermes Birkin bag which reached €10,100 while a Hermes Kelly bag went under the hammer for €8,200. But dozens of other bags were sold for around €400.

The goods sold were confiscated by police and tax officials during criminal investigations and were only authorised for sale if the suspect cannot prove how he or she made a living.

Officials are now being trained to recognise expensive accessories, which are authenticated by the auctioneers before being sold. This first auction was such a success the police are now collecting items for a second sale, possibly later this year, the public prosecution department said.