How SafeOrStolen Works
Updated
You enter an item's IMEI, VIN, plate or serial number. SafeOrStolen searches its own theft reports and public web results, adds police records for guns and Arizona vehicles, a stolen-bicycle registry for bikes and a carrier blacklist on paid phone checks, and shows one of three results in a few seconds, with every source it searched. The check is saved to your account with the date.
Below is exactly what goes in, what gets searched, what comes back, and what a check can't tell you. To run one now, use the stolen item checker.
Step 1: You enter the number
One box takes any identifier. A 15-digit number is read as a phone IMEI, 17 characters as a VIN, and anything else as a serial number or plate. You can also pick the item type yourself. Get the number from the item, not from the listing text: ask the seller for a photo of the label, the engraving or the Settings screen, and check that same number again when you meet.
Step 2: The sources are searched
Every check searches two things: theft reports owners have filed on SafeOrStolen, and public web results such as listings and posts that mention the number. Some item types get more.
| Item | What you enter | Always searched | Added for this item |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phone or tablet | 15-digit IMEI | SafeOrStolen theft reports and public web results | Shows the make and model the IMEI belongs to. A paid check can also search the lost/stolen carrier blacklist. |
| Car, truck or motorcycle | 17-character VIN | SafeOrStolen theft reports and public web results | Decodes the year, make and model and lists open safety recalls. Arizona VINs are also searched against Arizona law-enforcement stolen-vehicle records, updated twice a day. |
| License plate | Plate number and state | SafeOrStolen theft reports | Arizona plates are also searched against Arizona law-enforcement records. Owner names are never shown. |
| Gun | Serial number from the frame or receiver | SafeOrStolen theft reports and public web results | 242,839 police firearm theft and loss reports from 33 states and Washington, DC (filed through 2017; the years covered vary by state), plus live Ohio law-enforcement records. Serials that look altered or obliterated are flagged. |
| Bicycle or e-bike | Frame serial number | SafeOrStolen theft reports and public web results | A national stolen-bicycle registry. |
| Laptop, console, camera, tool and anything else with a serial | Serial number | SafeOrStolen theft reports and public web results | None. These checks rely on owner reports and public listings. |
What a check does not search
Some records aren't open to the public, and SafeOrStolen doesn't pretend otherwise. A check does not search:
- The FBI's NCIC or ATF eTrace (police-only systems)
- State DMV or MVD title and registration records
- Carrier records, other than the blacklist search on a paid phone check
- Apple Activation Lock, Find My, or Google account status
- Manufacturer, pawn shop or insurance company databases
That's why the result always lists its sources. You can see what was covered and decide what else to check yourself, like having the seller sign out of their Apple ID in front of you.
Step 3: You get one of three results
| Result | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Reported stolen | The number matches a theft report in one of the sources searched. The result shows which source. | Don't buy. Don't confront the seller. Keep the listing and messages and give them to local police. |
| Possible match | Something close turned up: a similar number, a public post that mentions it, or a partial record. | Read the details. Ask the seller to explain, compare the number on the item itself, and walk away if it doesn't add up. |
| No report found in the records searched | Nothing matched in any listed source. It is not proof the item was never stolen, because many thefts are never reported with a serial number. | Go ahead with the normal checks: number on the item matches the listing, seller can unlock or sign out of it, story makes sense. |
Step 4: The check is saved
Each check goes into your account history with the number, the date, the result and the sources searched. You can come back to it if a question comes up after the sale. If you want a record you can send to someone, add a verification certificate for $1.99. It's a dated record with its own link that shows you checked before you bought. Monthly members get certificates free.
What it costs
A free account comes with 2 checks and no credit card. After that it's $0.99 for a single check or $10 a month for unlimited checks. Full details are on the pricing page. Pawn shops and dealers checking many items at once can use bulk check.
Not sure where the number is?
Each item has its own page with photos of where to look: phones, cars, plates, guns, bikes and everything else with a serial number. For a buyer's checklist from listing to handover, read how to verify a used item.
Questions people ask
How does SafeOrStolen work?
You type in the item's identifier: an IMEI for a phone, a VIN for a vehicle, a plate, or a serial number for anything else. SafeOrStolen (safeorstolen.com/how-it-works) searches its own theft reports and public web results, plus extra sources for guns, bikes, Arizona vehicles and paid phone checks. In a few seconds you get one of three results with every source listed, and the check is saved to your account with the date.
Does SafeOrStolen search police databases?
For some items. Gun checks search 242,839 police firearm theft and loss reports from 33 states and Washington, DC, filed through 2017 with years that vary by state, and live Ohio law-enforcement records. Arizona VINs and plates are searched against Arizona law-enforcement stolen-vehicle records. SafeOrStolen does not search the FBI's NCIC, ATF eTrace or any DMV, which the public cannot query.
What does "no report found" mean?
It means the number did not match anything in the sources listed on your result. It does not prove the item is clean. Plenty of owners never record their serial numbers, and a theft from last night may not be reported anywhere yet. Treat it as one good sign, then check that the number on the item matches the listing and that the seller can unlock or sign out of it.
Can SafeOrStolen tell me if a phone is blacklisted?
Yes, with a paid check. A free phone check shows the make and model the IMEI belongs to and searches SafeOrStolen theft reports and public web results. The lost/stolen carrier blacklist search is part of a paid check, and monthly members get up to 20 blacklist checks a month. SafeOrStolen does not check Apple or Google account locks, so have the seller sign out in front of you.
Does a VIN check show accident or title history?
No. A SafeOrStolen VIN check decodes the year, make and model, lists open safety recalls, and searches theft reports and public web results, plus Arizona law-enforcement records for Arizona vehicles. It does not show title brands, accidents, liens or odometer readings. Get those from a vehicle history report and the state title before you buy a car.
Is my check saved, and can I prove I checked?
Every check is saved to your SafeOrStolen account with the date and the sources searched. If you want something to show a seller, buyer or the police later, you can add a verification certificate for $1.99: a dated record with its own link showing you checked before the sale. Monthly members get certificates free.
Can I see who owns an item or who reported it stolen?
No. SafeOrStolen never shows owner names, addresses or who filed a report, and plate searches never return the registered owner. If an item comes back reported stolen, contact your local police on their non-emergency line. They can reach the owner and decide what happens next.