Where stolen guns are recorded, and who can search each
When an owner reports a gun stolen, the local police department enters it in its state's crime information system, which passes it to NCIC. Here's the full picture.
| Record | What's in it | Who can search it |
|---|---|---|
| National: the FBI’s NCIC file | Guns reported stolen to any U.S. police agency, kept current | Police; licensed dealers voluntarily since August 2025 |
| State crime information systems | Each state police network, which feeds NCIC | Police in that state |
| State public searches | Guns reported stolen in that one state | Anyone, in the few states that offer one (Florida and Ohio among them) |
| SafeOrStolen | more than 220,000 police theft and loss reports from 33 states and DC (filed 1973 to 2017), live Ohio records, owner reports, altered-serial flag | Anyone; 1 free check |
| ATF | No stolen-gun lookup. eTrace traces recovered guns for police | Law enforcement only |
Why a one-state search isn't enough
A gun is reported stolen in the state it was taken from. If it's sold across the state line, a search of the buyer's state won't find it. State public searches also only cover what police in that state chose to publish.
So use more than one check. Run the serial on SafeOrStolen, which covers every state in its records at once. Then ask your local police to run it through NCIC, or do the sale through a licensed dealer who can check the stolen-gun file. Your state's rules on private sales are on our state firearm transfer laws page.
States in SafeOrStolen's police records
The more than 220,000 police theft and loss reports come from these 33 states and Washington, DC. They were filed from 1973 to 2017, and each state's years are listed below. Each state's page shows what the records hold for that state. Totals and trends are on stolen gun statistics.
| State | Years covered |
|---|---|
| Arizona | 1990–2017 |
| California | 1979–2017 |
| Colorado | 2002–2017 |
| Connecticut | 2006–2016 |
| Delaware | 2014–2017 |
| District of Columbia | 2011–2017 |
| Florida | 2006–2017 |
| Georgia | 2010–2017 |
| Idaho | 2010–2017 |
| Illinois | 1973–2017 |
| Indiana | 1993–2017 |
| Kansas | 2006–2017 |
| Louisiana | 2010–2017 |
| Maryland | 2010–2017 |
| Massachusetts | 2010–2017 |
| Michigan | 2009–2016 |
| Missouri | 1974–2017 |
| Nebraska | 1993–2017 |
| Nevada | Not dated in the records |
| New Hampshire | 2010–2017 |
| New Jersey | 2008–2017 |
| New York | 2010–2017 |
| North Carolina | 2006–2017 |
| Ohio | 2010–2016 |
| Oklahoma | 2010–2017 |
| Oregon | 2010–2017 |
| Pennsylvania | 2012–2017 |
| Rhode Island | 2010–2017 |
| South Carolina | 1997–2017 |
| Texas | 2000–2017 |
| Utah | 2010–2016 |
| Virginia | 2011–2017 |
| Washington | 2010–2017 |
| Wisconsin | 2010–2017 |
Not on the list? The check still searches owner reports and Ohio records, and flags altered serials. Ask your local police to run the serial too.
Questions
Is there a national stolen gun database?
Yes. The FBI’s National Crime Information Center (NCIC) holds guns reported stolen to police across the U.S., and since August 2025 licensed firearm dealers can voluntarily check its stolen-gun file. A private buyer can run the serial on SafeOrStolen, which searches more than 220,000 police firearm theft and loss reports from 33 states and Washington, DC plus live Ohio law-enforcement stolen-gun records, and can also buy through a licensed dealer (FFL) or ask local police to run the serial.
Does every state have a public stolen gun database?
No. Police in every state record stolen guns and send them to NCIC, but only a few states let the public search those records online, Florida and Ohio among them. In most states your options are a SafeOrStolen check, a call to the local police non-emergency line, or a sale through a licensed dealer.
How do I check a gun serial number in my state?
Enter the serial on SafeOrStolen (safeorstolen.com/blog/state-stolen-gun-database-guide). One search covers more than 220,000 police theft and loss reports from 33 states and Washington, DC, live Ohio law-enforcement records and owner reports, so you don't need to know where the gun was stolen. You can also ask your local police to run the serial.
Do I need to check more than one state?
Yes. A gun is reported stolen where it was taken, not where it's sold, and guns move between states. A state-only search misses a gun stolen next door. SafeOrStolen's search covers 33 states and Washington, DC at once, plus live Ohio records, and a licensed dealer or your local police can also run the serial.
What years do the police reports SafeOrStolen searches cover?
The more than 220,000 police theft and loss reports were filed from 1973 to 2017, and each state's years are listed on this page. Ohio law-enforcement records are searched live, and owner reports on SafeOrStolen are added as they come in. For a private sale, you can also buy through a licensed dealer (FFL) or ask local police to run the serial.