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Nearly 40,000 items recovered from safe deposit boxes are being auctioned by the state on August first. Then annual event has raised millions for the states schools, but as Mike Vasilinda tells us, it is not too late to find out if you have something of value being held by the state.

Hear it Here: Forgotten Treasure

Again, if you think you or a family member may have unclaimed property, the web site is www.fltreasurehunt.org. The CFO’s office says if you think the property could be located in some other state, they can also help you search databases and make claims.

Behind this vault in a state building is a veritable treasure. Some items have value only to the original owners. But other things can be quite valuable. All of it was recovered from safe deposit boxes left unattended by their owners.

“People pass away and they forget to tell their children that they have a safe deposit box. Of course the bills aren’t paid,” Florida CFO Alex Sink said.

There are pieces of eight, silver certificates, rings, diamond broaches, rare coins and much, much more.

If you think any of the treasure or even an old utility deposit could be yours, there is an easy way to find out.

Log on to www.fltreasurehunt.org. Type in your name or a family member’s name. Nothing comes up for Vasilinda, but there are 17 pages of property belonging to people named Hill.

The state wants to give you or your families property back.

“Some people have thousands of dollars,” Sink said. “I even returned a check for half a million dollars once to a gentleman whose grandfather had given him some stock and he didn’t know about it when he was a kid.”

Even if items that belonged to you and your family are sold, you are still entitled to the cash no matter when you make the claim.

Again, if you think you or a family member may have unclaimed property, the web site is www.fltreasurehunt.org. The CFO’s office says if you think the property could be located in some other state, they can also help you search databases and make claims.