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Quote:Get amazing bargains on property, cars, computers ... buy top-quality stolen bikes for £10 at official police auctions ... discover the secrets of government auctions ... fantastic prices on army surplus ... ridiculously low clearance prices from government departments.

These claims are plastered over internet adverts. But do these secret stashes of bargain goods really exist? Is there a sort of parallel eBay known only to a select few?

Many of the claims are indeed bunk, but when Guardian Money investigated, the big surprise was that there are bargains to be found if you search hard enough - from stolen bikes starting at £1 where the police can't find the owner to RAF officer shoes at £4 a pair.

There's even the 5,000-ton HMS Sir Percivale, which the Royal Navy is currently trying to flog. It can carry 350 troops and their vehicles, and was the first ship to enter Stanley harbour after the Argentinian surrender in the Falklands War. But there's no argy-bargy today. Just press "add to basket" and it's yours for £1.5m.