TheftAZ vs SafeOrStolen — What's the Difference?
TheftAZ (operated by the Arizona Attorney General's Office at theftaz.azag.gov) is Arizona's official stolen property database. It's free and useful — but limited to records reported within Arizona. If an item was stolen in California, Nevada, Texas, or any other state and brought to Arizona for sale, TheftAZ won't show it.
SafeOrStolen searches TheftAZ data PLUS all of these additional sources:
| Feature | TheftAZ | SafeOrStolen |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona stolen property records | ||
| FBI NCIC (7M+ records) | ||
| NICB (vehicles) | ||
| GSMA (phones) | ||
| All 50 state databases | ||
| Carrier blacklists (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile) | ||
| Insurance theft claims | ||
| HotGunz (32K+ firearms) | ||
| BikeIndex (700K+ bikes) | ||
| Mobile app | ||
| Phones (IMEI check) | ||
| Cost | Free | 2 free, then $2.99/mo |
If you only check TheftAZ, you'll miss items stolen in other states that ended up in Arizona — which is extremely common due to Arizona's proximity to California (the state with the highest theft rates) and the Mexico border. SafeOrStolen gives you the complete picture.
Why Arizona Needs More Than TheftAZ
Arizona is uniquely positioned as a destination for stolen property from other states. California — which has the highest vehicle theft rate in the nation — shares a 389-mile border with Arizona. Vehicles stolen in Los Angeles, San Diego, and the Bay Area are frequently driven east on I-10 to Phoenix, Tucson, and Mesa where they're sold to unsuspecting buyers.
The Arizona-Mexico border also creates trafficking routes for stolen vehicles and property. Cars stolen anywhere in the Southwest may pass through Arizona en route to Mexico, or stolen property from Mexico may enter Arizona's market. These items won't appear in TheftAZ because they were never reported stolen in Arizona specifically.
This is why checking only TheftAZ is insufficient. SafeOrStolen's nationwide database search catches the California-to-Arizona pipeline, cross-border trafficking, and theft reports from all 50 states that TheftAZ alone cannot access.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is TheftAZ?
TheftAZ (theftaz.azag.gov) is the Arizona Attorney General's stolen property database. It contains records of stolen vehicles, firearms, electronics, tools, and other property reported to Arizona law enforcement agencies. It's free to use but limited to Arizona-only records.
Is SafeOrStolen better than TheftAZ?
SafeOrStolen is more comprehensive. While TheftAZ only searches Arizona records, SafeOrStolen checks 100+ databases including FBI NCIC, NICB, GSMA, and all 50 state law enforcement systems. Items stolen in other states that end up in Arizona would be missed by TheftAZ alone.
Can I still use TheftAZ directly?
Yes. TheftAZ is available at theftaz.azag.gov. We recommend using both — TheftAZ for Arizona-specific searches, and SafeOrStolen for comprehensive nationwide coverage.
Is SafeOrStolen free for Arizona residents?
SafeOrStolen offers 2 free checks for everyone. After that, $0.99/check or $2.99/month unlimited covering all item types and all databases.
What types of property can I check?
SafeOrStolen checks vehicles (VIN/plate), phones (IMEI), firearms (serial number), electronics, laptops, bikes, tools, appliances, jewelry, and more — across all 50 states simultaneously.