How to Check if an Appliance Is Stolen
Check a used washer, dryer, refrigerator, range or dishwasher before you buy it. Find the serial on the rating plate, check it here, and look for the signs of a jobsite or delivery theft.
2 free checks · No credit card · Updated October 7, 2026
Quick answer
How do I check if an appliance is stolen?
Find the rating plate, the sticker with the model and serial number (inside a fridge on the side wall, around a washer's door opening, behind a range's bottom drawer), and enter the serial on SafeOrStolen (safeorstolen.com/check-appliances). It searches theft reports and public web results in a few seconds. Then look at the appliance itself: a new unit with no receipt, still on its shipping pallet, or with cut supply lines is a warning sign.
Where the serial number is on each appliance
The serial is on the rating plate, a sticker or metal tag that also lists the model number and electrical ratings. Photograph the whole plate.
| Appliance | Where to look first | If it isn't there |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | Inside the fresh-food section, on the upper side wall or the ceiling | Behind the crisper drawers, or on the back |
| Front-load washer | Around the door opening or on the inside of the door | On the back panel |
| Top-load washer | Under the lid, on the rim of the cabinet | On the back of the control panel |
| Dryer | Inside the door opening | On the back panel |
| Range or oven | Behind the storage or warming drawer at the bottom | Inside the oven door frame |
| Dishwasher | On the edge of the door or the tub frame, seen when the door is open | On the side of the tub (visible only when uninstalled) |
| Microwave (over-the-range) | Inside the door frame | On the back |
Signs an appliance may be stolen
- A brand-new unit with no receipt, often still on its shipping pallet or with the protective film on
- A builder or distributor label, a jobsite address written on the box, or a lot number sticker
- A matching set (fridge, range, dishwasher, microwave) of brand-new appliances sold by someone who isn't a dealer
- Water lines, gas lines or power cords that were cut instead of disconnected
- A rating plate that is peeled, scraped or missing
- A smart appliance that is still connected to someone else's app account and the seller can't remove it
Why new appliances get stolen from homes being built
Builders often install appliances before a new home is finished and locked up. Those units are new, unregistered and have no receipt in anyone's hand, which makes them easy to resell. If someone is selling several new, matching appliances, ask where they came from and ask for the dealer's invoice. A real builder or installer with leftovers will have one.
What a Appliance check looks for
An appliance check looks for a theft report tied to the appliance's serial number. Owners, landlords and builders give the serial to the police when appliances are stolen. The serial number is unique to the unit; the model number is shared by every unit of that model, so make sure you check the serial.
Step by step
Ask the seller for a photo of the rating plate before you go to see it.
Check the serial number on SafeOrStolen.
When you see it, match the plate to the photo and look at how it was disconnected.
For a new unit, ask for the receipt or dealer invoice. For a smart appliance, have the seller remove it from their app.
If it comes back reported stolen or the plate is missing, don't buy it and give the listing to your local police.
Type the serial number from the rating plate into the search box. SafeOrStolen searches its own theft reports and public web results, including listings and posts that mention the serial, and returns reported stolen, possible match, or no report found in the records searched, with every source listed. It doesn't search manufacturer, retailer or warranty records.
Why check before you buy
Appliances are expensive, and a stolen one can be taken back by the police and returned to the owner, leaving you without the money or the appliance. A serial check takes a few seconds, and the questions about receipts and installation tell you a lot about who you are buying from.
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