The chief of police shall restore unclaimed property in the possession of the police department to its true legal owner, upon proof of such ownership satisfactory to him, and upon the payment of all reasonably necessary costs incurred in the care and protection thereof, and cost of publication, if any, not exceeding ten percent of the value of the property or the amount of money. Where any such property may be needed or required as evidence in any criminal proceeding, the chief of police shall delay the restoration of such property to its legal owner until the conclusion of such proceedings. If such property is introduced as evidence in a criminal case, it shall be disposed of only upon the order of the proper court. If the legal owner is a person prohibited by law from possession of such property, restitution shall not be made. (Ord. No. 1483 § 1 (part).)