For insurers, adjusters and claims investigators
Theft Claims Verification by Serial Number
To check a theft claim, run the serial number, IMEI or VIN of each claimed item through SafeOrStolen. The search covers owner-filed theft reports and public web results, so it can show an earlier theft report on the same item or a listing that mentions it after the loss. Gun serials also go against police theft reports from 33 states and DC. Lists of up to 100 run through the bulk check.
2 free checks · No credit card · Updated October 7, 2026
How to read a result on a claim
| What the check shows | What it can mean for the claim |
|---|---|
| A SafeOrStolen theft report filed before the claimed loss date | The item may have been reported stolen by someone else earlier. Ask how the claimant came to own it. |
| A public listing that mentions the serial after the claimed loss date | The item may be on the market. Compare the listing photos and location with the claim. |
| A web post by the claimant about the theft | Consistent with the claim. Check that the details match. |
| No report found in the records searched | Nothing turned up in those sources on that date. It neither supports nor undermines the claim. |
| Gun serial flagged as altered or obliterated | The serial on file may not be the original. Talk to the investigating agency. |
A result is a lead, not a finding. Every result names the sources it searched, and "possible match" means a source mentions a similar number, so open it before drawing a conclusion.
Checking a claim step by step
- Ask the claimant for serial numbers from receipts, boxes, warranty registrations or photos. For a phone, the IMEI is on the box label and in the carrier account.
- Put them in a .csv file, one per line, with the item type and the claim number as a note, for example
C02XG0FDH7JY, electronics, claim 88213. - Upload the file at /bulk-check and download the results CSV when it finishes.
- Open anything marked reported stolen, reported lost or possible match, and compare dates and places with the claim.
- Attach the CSV to the claim file. It shows what you searched and when.
Policyholders whose items were stolen can also file a report at /report-stolen, so a buyer who checks the serial later sees it.
Common questions from insurers
How can an insurer verify a stolen property claim by serial number?
Collect the serial numbers, IMEIs or VINs of the claimed items and run them on SafeOrStolen (safeorstolen.com/for-insurance-companies). Each check searches owner-filed theft reports and public web results, so you can see an earlier theft report on the same item or a listing that mentions it after the loss date. Up to 100 numbers go through /bulk-check at once.
Does SafeOrStolen search insurance claim databases?
No. SafeOrStolen does not search insurer or industry claim databases, NCIC, DMV records or carrier records other than a paid phone blacklist check. It searches its own theft reports and public web results, plus police firearm theft reports from 33 states and DC and live Ohio records for guns, a national bike registry, and Arizona law-enforcement records for Arizona vehicles.
Can SafeOrStolen tell me if a claimed phone was blacklisted?
Yes, with the paid phone blacklist check, which searches the lost and stolen carrier blacklist by IMEI. A standard IMEI check shows the make and model, which helps confirm the claimed device matches the IMEI given. Monthly members get up to 20 blacklist checks a month. It does not show Apple or Google account lock status.
What record do we get of each check?
Every check is saved to your account with the date, the result and the sources searched. The bulk check also gives you a CSV with the time of each check in UTC and a check ID. A $1.99 verification certificate adds a dated record with its own link. None of these is an official record or a finding of fraud.
Is there an API for claims systems?
No public API exists today, and there are no claims-system plugins. Adjusters can run single checks at /verify or lists at /bulk-check and attach the results file to the claim. If you need checks to run from your own system, email safeorstolenmail@gmail.com with your item types and monthly volume.
How much does it cost an insurance company?
The same as everyone: 2 free checks with a free account and no credit card, then $0.99 per check or $10 a month for unlimited checks, cancel anytime, with a 30-day refund on the monthly plan. There is no separate enterprise price list. Ask at safeorstolenmail@gmail.com if you need something else.
Try it on an open claim
2 free checks, then $0.99 per check or $10 a month unlimited. Questions: safeorstolenmail@gmail.com.