Leicestershire's Police's eBay 'shop' has generated more than £270,000 in the past year by selling goods seized from criminals.
The force has auctioned sports cars, computers and designer jewellery and clothing which, courts had established, had been paid for with criminal cash.
Many of the items were confiscated thanks to tip-offs from the public, who became suspicious of people who were living the high life despite having no obvious legitimate income.
Some buyers have bought high-powered cars for tens of thousands of pounds, others designer jewellery for hundreds, while others have snapped up DVDs.
The force reported this week that the total value of the sales since January was £273,247. The Leicestershire force was the first in the UK to use eBay to sell seized criminal assets.
It opened the shop in September 2009 and the total raised since then is more than £1.2 million.
In the past year, it has sold an Aston Martin DB9 car for £63,000, an Audi A5 for £29,500 and a Range Rover for £15,500 and a Mercedes car for £7,751.
A Rolex watch sold for more than £13,000 while a Frank Sinatra autograph was bought for £260.
Paul Wenlock, the head of Leicestershire Police's economic crime unit, said the site had been a "huge success".
He said: "The site is also a daily reminder we will take civil as well as criminal action to ensure criminals do not benefit from their crimes.
"In some cases, we have been able to seize goods and sell them where we have not managed to secure a criminal conviction.
"All the money the site generates goes back to fund crime-fighting work.
"Often the inquiry starts from information from members of the public.
"If you know anyone who appears to be living a lifestyle beyond their visible means, we would like to know. We can take both civil and criminal action to be sure they do not benefit from these activities."
Everything the force has sold had been seized and formally confiscated by the courts under the Proceeds of Crime Act after officers proved they were bought with criminal cash.
The cash is used to fund further crime-fighting, while some is donated to good causes, including organisations which support victims of crime.
The police's eBay seller rating – which reflects its customers' satisfaction levels – is 99.8 per cent. That means almost all of the people who have bought items from the force have been happy with their experience.
The force uses eBay to sell other items in its possession.
It made £39,209 by selling surplus police equipment and £24,050 on unclaimed lost property. Contact Leicestershire Police on 101, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
