Mass. Offers Peek Of Unclaimed Items Headed For Auction

Unclaimed property including valuable jewelry and high-end watches is about to be put up for auction by the state of Massachusetts.

The items are among those from abandoned safe deposit boxes that have gone unclaimed for years despite efforts to reunite them with their rightful owners.

State Treasurer Deb Goldberg says the items will be displayed at the Statehouse on Monday in advance of a live auction that begins Saturday on eBay. Proceeds from the auction will go to the state's general fund.

The state maintains a website listing about $2.4 billion in unclaimed property such as old bank accounts and safe deposit boxes.

Even after an item is auctioned, the rightful owners can still claim the cash equivalent from the sale if they can prove ownership of the property.