Verification Methodology

How a verification works

1. The user submits an identifier, or a marketplace listing URL the platform analyzes to locate one.
2. SafeOrStolen determines the applicable property category.
3. Available data sources for that category are queried.
4. Results are evaluated and consolidated.
5. A verification result is returned, typically in a few seconds.
6. A timestamped Verification Record is generated.

Supported identifiers

Each property category is verified using a different identifier. Collect the correct one before running a check.

What verification results mean

A completed check returns one of five statuses. Each one means something specific.

Stolen (stolen)

At least one source returned a matching stolen report for the submitted identifier. This is the strongest signal the platform produces and the transaction should not proceed. Contact local law enforcement rather than confronting the seller.

Lost (lost)

At least one source returned a matching lost-property report, and no stolen report was matched. An item can be reported lost and later recovered, or reported lost when the owner suspects theft but cannot confirm it. Treat it as unresolved and ask the seller for proof of purchase.

Safe (safe)

One or more sources were successfully checked and none returned a matching theft or loss report. This means no matching report was found in the sources checked at the time of the check. It is not proof that the item was never stolen.

Unknown (unknown)

No source returned a usable answer for this identifier — for example, coverage does not extend to the category or jurisdiction, or a source was unavailable. An unknown result is not a clean result. Nothing was confirmed either way, and the check should be repeated or supplemented with other due diligence.

Error (error)

The check could not be completed, typically because the identifier was malformed or a request failed. Correct the identifier and run the check again. An error result carries no information about the item.

What SafeOrStolen cannot establish

• A result does not establish legal ownership or clear title.
• A result does not establish authenticity or confirm an item is not counterfeit.
• A result does not prove an item was never stolen — only that no matching report was found in the sources checked.
• Coverage varies by category and jurisdiction. Not all thefts are reported, and not all reports reach searchable sources.
• Records change. A result reflects the sources at the time of the check.
• SafeOrStolen is not law enforcement and does not query law-enforcement-restricted systems.

Verification Records

Every completed check generates a Verification Record. A record contains a reference number, the item category, a masked version of the submitted identifier, the result, and the date and time of the check. The identifier is masked so a record can be shared without publishing a full serial number, IMEI, or VIN.

Records exist to make a check reviewable after the fact. For a buyer, a record documents that due diligence was performed before payment. For a seller, it is evidence of provenance that can be shown to a prospective buyer without handing over the full identifier. For pawn shops, dealers, and resellers, it is an auditable artifact that can be retained alongside intake paperwork.

For a practical walkthrough of verifying an item before buying it, see the secondhand verification guide.