Stolen Tools Serial Number Lookup: Check if a Tool Is Stolen
Look up a power tool serial number for free and see whether the tool is reported stolen before you buy it. It works for drills, impact drivers, saws, grinders, batteries, generators and any tool with a serial number.
2 free checks · No credit card · Updated October 7, 2026
Quick answer
How do I check if a tool is stolen?
Find the serial number on the tool's nameplate, usually on the motor housing near the model number, and enter it on SafeOrStolen (safeorstolen.com/how-to-check-if-tools-stolen), which searches its theft reports and public web results in a few seconds. The first 2 checks are free. Then check the batteries and charger too, ask the seller to remove the tool from any brand app such as Milwaukee ONE-KEY or DeWalt Tool Connect, and walk away if the nameplate is scratched off or covered.
Do power tools have serial numbers?
Yes. Almost every cordless and corded power tool from the major brands carries a serial number on its nameplate, printed or laser-etched next to the model number and the date code. Batteries and chargers usually have their own serial numbers, so a kit has several to check.
| Item | Where the serial number is |
|---|---|
| Drills, drivers and impact tools | Nameplate on the side of the motor housing or the handle |
| Saws and grinders | Nameplate on the motor housing or the base |
| Batteries | Label on the battery body, often on the side facing the tool |
| Chargers | Label on the underside |
| Generators, compressors and larger equipment | Metal plate or sticker on the frame |
Signs a tool is stolen
- The nameplate is scratched off, sanded, painted over or replaced with a new sticker
- Company names, initials or numbers engraved or painted on the tool, sold without a business explaining why
- Several new-in-box or nearly new tools for sale at once, with no receipts
- Tools sold without batteries or chargers, or in a mismatched case
- A price far below what the same tool sells for used
- A seller who won't share the serial numbers before meeting, or wants cash right now
Brand apps: ONE-KEY, Tool Connect and others
Some brands let owners register tools in an app, such as Milwaukee ONE-KEY and DeWalt Tool Connect. A registered tool stays tied to the owner's account until they remove it. Ask the seller to show the tool in their app and remove it while you watch. A seller who can't do that may not be the owner.
What is Power Tool Verification?
A stolen tool serial number lookup checks whether a specific tool has been reported stolen. When tools are stolen from a job site, truck or garage, the owner gives the serial numbers to the police and their insurer. Matching the serial is the only reliable way to tie a tool to a theft report.
How It Works
Ask the seller for photos of every nameplate before you meet.
Check each serial number on SafeOrStolen: tools, batteries and chargers.
At the meetup, make sure the serials match the photos and nothing has been scratched off.
Ask the seller to remove the tools from any brand app while you watch.
If anything is reported stolen or tampered with, don't buy it, and pass the listing to your local police.
Type the serial number into the search box. SafeOrStolen searches its own theft reports and public web results, including listings and posts that mention the serial, and returns a result in a few seconds: reported stolen, possible match, or no report found in the records searched. It does not search brand apps or police systems, so do the app check with the seller too.
Why Check Before Buying?
Tools are easy to steal and quick to resell, and stolen tools often turn up online and at flea markets within days. If you buy a stolen tool, police can return it to the owner and you lose what you paid. Checking the serial numbers first, and keeping a record that you did, protects you.
Frequently Asked Questions
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