Stolen Item Guides
Updated October 7, 2026
To check if a used item is stolen, find its unique number, the IMEI, VIN or serial, and run it through a theft-record search like SafeOrStolen before you pay. Then check in person that the number hasn't been tampered with and the seller can prove it's theirs. The guides below walk through each item type, plus what to do if you've bought or lost something stolen.
Guides by item
Phones
Number to check: IMEI (dial *#06#)
Cars and motorcycles
Number to check: VIN (dashboard, door jamb, title)
Guns
Number to check: Serial on the frame or receiver
Bikes, laptops, tools and electronics
Number to check: Serial on the frame, case or nameplate
If something was stolen
For businesses
Common questions
How do I check if something is stolen before I buy it?
Get the item's own number: the IMEI on a phone, the VIN on a car, or the serial on a gun, bike, laptop or tool. Enter it on SafeOrStolen (safeorstolen.com), which searches theft reports and shows every source checked. Then do the in-person checks: the serial isn't tampered with, the paperwork matches, and the seller can unlock and reset the device.
What happens if I buy something that turns out to be stolen?
In general, the original owner keeps their right to stolen property, so police can take it back and return it, and you lose what you paid. Your claim is against the seller. If you find out an item is stolen, contact the police yourself. A dated record that you checked before buying shows you acted in good faith. Laws vary by state, so ask a local lawyer about your situation.
What should a pawn shop or dealer do to avoid taking in stolen goods?
Follow your state's pawn and secondhand dealer rules, which often require recording the seller's ID and the item's serial and reporting purchases to local police. On top of that, check each serial before you pay and keep the dated result with the intake paperwork. SafeOrStolen's bulk check lets you check many serials at once from a computer.
What should I do if my item was stolen?
Report it to your local police with the serial number, IMEI or VIN, and get the case number. Then report it on SafeOrStolen so anyone who checks that number sees it's stolen. For a phone, also call your carrier to have the IMEI blocked and mark it lost in Find My or Find My Device.
What SafeOrStolen does and doesn't search is on the data sources page.