Forget Landfills; Faux Designer Shoes Given to Homeless

Cops donate 5,000 pairs of counterfeit designer shoes to Union Rescue Mission

Updated 2:43 PM PDT, Thu, Jan 7, 2010

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The Los Angeles Police Department played Santa for the homeless Thursday, donating 5,000 pairs of counterfeit designer shoes to the Union Rescue Mission.

The LAPD's piracy unit had confiscated the shoes for trademark infringement and, in partnership with the City Attorney's office, donated them to the homeless, said City Attorney's Office spokesman Frank Mateljan.

Recently enacted state Senate Bill 324 makes possible the donation of confiscated counterfeit goods to organizations serving the homeless, with the trademark owner's consent, Mateljan said.

"It makes so much more sense to use them, instead of sending them to the landfill," he added.

Another 5,000 pairs will be delivered to the mission next month. The bogus designer labels and identifying marks are removed before distribution.

"On Christmas Day over 1,800 men, women and children will come to the Union Rescue Mission or to one of our four winter shelter programs to find refuge and we are thrilled to be able to surprise them with a new pair of shoes for Christmas," said Mission CEO Andy Bales.

Officials estimate more than $2 billion of counterfeit goods are sold every year in Los Angeles. Prior to the passage of SB 324, the law required the destruction of confiscated counterfeit goods.