How to Check if Something Is Stolen
Find the item's number: the IMEI on a phone (dial *#06#), the VIN on a car, or the serial number on anything else. Run the free check for that item type, listed below. SafeOrStolen searches phones, cars, guns, bikes and serial-numbered items in one place, and the first 2 checks are free. If the number is scratched off or doesn't match the seller's paperwork, don't buy.
By Samuel Pfeiffer · Updated October 16, 2026
Free ways to check if something is stolen, by item
Each free public tool covers one item type or one state. Use the one that fits, and use more than one when you can.
| Item | Number to check | Free public check | What SafeOrStolen searches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phone, tablet or smartwatch | IMEI (dial *#06#) | CTIA's Stolen Phone Checker: free, shows whether a participating US carrier reported the device lost or stolen. | Make and model from the IMEI, our theft reports and web results; an optional paid blacklist check. |
| Car, truck or motorcycle | 17-character VIN | NICB VINCheck: free, VIN only, up to 5 searches a day. Shows unrecovered thefts and salvage records reported by participating insurers. | VIN decode and open recalls, our theft reports, and Arizona law-enforcement records for every VIN. |
| Arizona vehicle | Plate or VIN | TheftAZ from the Arizona Attorney General: free, records from participating Arizona agencies, updated twice a day. | Searches the same Arizona records automatically, for plates from any state. |
| Gun | Serial number | No national public lookup. The FBI stolen-gun file is open to police only; some states, such as Florida, run their own public search. | 242,839 police theft and loss reports from 33 states and Washington, DC, plus live Ohio law-enforcement records. |
| Bike or e-bike | Frame serial | Free community stolen-bike registries. | Searches a national stolen-bicycle registry plus our theft reports in the same check. |
| Laptop, tools, camera, other | Serial number | No public database. Thefts sit in local police reports. | Our theft reports and public web results, the closest thing to a single search. |
No free check can prove an item isn't stolen; many thefts are never reported. Results from SafeOrStolen read "reported stolen", "possible match" or "no report found in the records searched", with every source listed.
Step-by-step guides by item
Find the number first
Where the serial, IMEI, VIN or HIN is on every type of item
Vehicle
VIN, plate, title, tampering, and official vehicle resources
Phone
IMEI, carrier status, account locks, and seller checks
iPhone
Activation Lock, Find My, IMEI, and carrier checks
Firearm
Police theft records, dealer (FFL) checks, Florida and Ohio searches, and red flags
Bicycle or e-bike
Frame serials, stolen-bike registries, and e-bike accounts
Laptop or electronics
Serials, manufacturer details, account locks, and receipts
TV
Serial label and settings match, receipts, and retail-theft red flags
Power tools
Tool serials, registration, tracking programs, and seller records
Boat
HIN, Coast Guard documentation, state records, trailer, and motor
Motorcycle
Frame VIN, title match, national theft and title checks, and tampering
Trailer, ATV, or dirt bike
VIN or serial, title and registration, and state rules
Watch
Serial and reference numbers, papers, and a lost-watch database
Camera or lens
Body and lens serials, photo-serial search, and owner settings
AirPods, Apple Watch, iPad
Serial check, Activation Lock, Find My, and pairing
License plate
Public-access limits, plate/VIN matching, and state guidance
Marketplace listing
Listing analysis, identifiers, payment, and meeting safety
Already bought it?
Preserve evidence, contact police, marketplace, and payment provider
Selling an item?
Records, independent checks, and a dated verification certificate
Is buying stolen property illegal?
General legal information on knowledge, ownership, and protecting yourself
Had something stolen?
Step-by-step guides for theft victims. After you report to police, you can log your item on SafeOrStolen so buyers who check its identifier see it was reported stolen.
How to report a stolen item
Police first, then carrier, insurer, or registry, then SafeOrStolen
Phone stolen
Find My, carrier IMEI block, police report, and accounts
Car stolen
Rule out towing, police, insurer, lender, and tracking
Bike stolen
Police report, stolen-bike registries, and local alerts
Gun stolen
Report to police right away and check your state law
Find it for sale online
Search marketplaces safely and give listings to police
Common questions
How do I check if something is stolen for free?
Find the item's number first: the IMEI for a phone (dial *#06#), the VIN for a car, or the serial number for anything else. Then use the free check for that item type: CTIA's Stolen Phone Checker for phones, NICB VINCheck for cars, and TheftAZ for Arizona vehicles. SafeOrStolen (safeorstolen.com) searches phones, cars, guns, bikes and serial-numbered items in one place, with the first 2 checks free.
Is there one database of all stolen items?
No. Stolen property is reported to local police, and the national file they use, the FBI's NCIC, is closed to the public. Free public tools each cover one item type or one state. SafeOrStolen searches its own theft reports, public web results and, depending on the item, police gun theft records, a national bike registry and Arizona vehicle records, and lists every source it searched.
How do I check if a gun is stolen?
There is no national public lookup for guns; the FBI's stolen-gun file is open to police only. SafeOrStolen (safeorstolen.com/firearms-check) searches 242,839 police theft and loss reports from 33 states and Washington, DC, plus live Ohio law-enforcement records, and flags altered serials. You can also ask your local police non-emergency line to run the serial.
Does a clean result mean the item is not stolen?
No. A clean result means no report was found in the records searched. Many thefts are never reported, or are reported only to a local police department. Match the number on the item with the seller's paperwork and ID, and walk away if the number is scratched off or the details don't match.
What should I do if an item comes back stolen?
Don't buy it and don't confront the seller. Leave, keep the listing and your messages, and give the details to your local police on their non-emergency line. If you already bought it, contact the police and the platform or payment provider you used.
Where SafeOrStolen fits
Every SafeOrStolen check searches its own theft reports and public web results. Guns are also checked against police theft and loss reports from 33 states and Washington, DC, and live Ohio law-enforcement records; bikes against a national stolen-bicycle registry; and Arizona VINs and plates against Arizona law-enforcement stolen-vehicle records. Outside sources described in these guides are separate checks for the reader to perform.
A result is one part of due diligence, not proof of ownership or a guarantee. Sellers and buyers can add an optional $1.99 verification certificate, a dated record with its own link showing the check was done before the sale; it is not a legal document.