How to Help Stop Stolen Goods Being Resold
Updated October 7, 2026
Stolen goods only pay off for thieves if someone buys them. Three things make that harder: owners reporting thefts with the serial number, buyers checking that number before they pay, and everyone keeping a record of their own serials. Each theft report filed on SafeOrStolen is searched in every later check of that number, so one report can warn many buyers.
Report your stolen item
Sign in, enter the item type and its serial number, IMEI or VIN, plus where it was stolen. From then on, anyone who checks that number on SafeOrStolen sees it's reported stolen. File a police report too, and add the case number.
Report a stolen itemCheck before you buy
When buyers check serials, stolen goods get harder to sell. Ask the seller for the number before you meet, check it, and walk away from anything reported stolen or with a scratched-off serial. Your first 2 checks are free.
Run a checkWrite down your own serials today
Police can't return a recovered item to you if you can't show which one is yours. Photograph the serial, IMEI or VIN on your phone, laptop, bike, tools and guns, and keep the receipts. If something is stolen, you'll have what police and registries need.
How to report a theftIf you think a listing is stolen
- Ask for the serial, IMEI or VIN and check it. A seller who refuses is telling you something.
- Don't accuse the seller or try to get the item back yourself.
- Screenshot the listing and the seller's profile.
- Call your local police non-emergency line, or the department in the city where the item is listed.
- Use the marketplace's own report button as well.
Questions
How can I help stop people selling stolen goods?
Check serial numbers before you buy used items, so stolen goods lose their easy buyers. If something of yours is stolen, report it to the police and on SafeOrStolen (safeorstolen.com/report-stolen) with its serial, so the next buyer who checks it is warned. And if you spot a listing you think is stolen, give the details to the police rather than confronting the seller.
What should I do if I see my stolen item for sale online?
Don't arrange to meet the seller yourself. Screenshot the listing, the seller's profile and any messages, then call the police department where you reported the theft and give them your case number and the listing. Point out the serial number or any marks that prove it's yours. Police can arrange the recovery safely.
Does SafeOrStolen have a forum or community group?
No. SafeOrStolen doesn't run a forum or member group. The way people take part is through theft reports: each owner report becomes part of what every check searches. Questions and feedback go to safeorstolenmail@gmail.com.
Browse items owners have reported in the stolen items database.