Rommate jailed , what to do with his stuff?

my roommate went to jail and he gets out in the next few months. is there a law that says after a certain period of time i can keep his stuff? i'd like ot keep his bed and a dresser because he owes me $400 in rent. i'm the one on the lease so im kind of his landlord. someone told me that if i make an eviction notice then after 30 days his stuff is mine. is it true?