...is this an "insurance company" auction? (ie. stolen 'vehicles' being auctioned?)...How on earth can an INSURANCE company be doing this?
Insurance companies do this everyday. Insured reports stolen vehicle to police.
Notifies insurance to make claim.
After X amount of time, if vehicle is not recovered, Ins comp pays owner/lienholder.
Title goes to Ins Company. Ownership gets transferred.
Meanwhile, stolen vehicle gets a new VIN and title from illegal(?) route.
Later on, car gets in accident or something, VIN is taken and entered along with year, make, & model. Adjuster, along with State Police, and sometimes DMV, get other VIN's.
All info is entered and comes up as stolen. Insurance company takes immediate possession, regardless who owns it or claims to have rights to it.
Lot gets full of stolen recoveries, ins company has an auction.