Builders and other tradesmen were shown around an "Aladdin's cave" of tools and equipment believed to have been stolen from the construction trade.
Officers from Welford Road police station, in Leicester, invited 25 people to cast their eye over more than 70 items – mostly professional building equipment and power tools – in the hope of reuniting them with their rightful owners.
Pc Paul Archer, of the Knighton safer neighbourhood team, organised the event after visiting builders merchants and DIY stores.
"I am really pleased with the number of people who visited the station," he said.
"There was a lot of interest from builders who had been victims of theft and I am hopeful the information they shared will result in more of the items being returned."
Police support volunteers Jim Plowman and Andrew Hartshorn were also on hand to offer advice about crime prevention and property marking.
Pc Archer said once all inquiries had been exhausted, the unclaimed property would be made available and disposed of through the police property act. The items were recovered by police at a house on the city's Eyres Monsell estate in December.
