Where a receiver of wreck suspects or receives information that any wreck is secreted or is in the possession of some person who is not the owner thereof or that any wreck is otherwise improperly dealt with, he may apply to the nearest ¹[Judicial Magistrate of the first class or Metropolitan Magistrate, as the case may be,] for a search warrant, and that ¹[Judicial Magistrate of the first class or Metropolitan Magistrate, as the case may be,] shall have power to grant such warrant and the receiver of wreck by virtue thereof may enter any house or other place wherever situate and also any vessel and search for, seize and detain any such wreck there found.