An Owner Applied Number (OAN) is an identification number assigned to property by its owner rather than its manufacturer. OANs help distinguish individual possessions and can provide law enforcement with valuable information when investigating theft or identifying recovered property.
Unlike manufacturer’s serial numbers, OANs establish an additional identifier associated with an owner or organization’s records.
How Does an OAN Differ From a Serial Number?
A manufacturer’s serial number identifies an individual, manufactured product. An OAN is assigned separately by an owner, business or property identification program.
For example, a power tool may have both a manufacturer’s serial number and a numbered asset tag applied by its owner.
These identifiers serve complementary purposes. The serial number identifies the manufactured object, while the OAN can connect it to an ownership or registration record.
An OAN’s effectiveness depends on the ability to trace the number to its associated records.
Does the FBI Recognize Owner Applied Numbers?
Yes. The FBI’s National Crime Information Center (NCIC) recognizes Owner Applied Numbers as searchable identifiers.
OANs appear in the NCIC Stolen Article File, Vehicle File, and Boat File, alongside other identifying numbers.
The NCIC Stolen Article File allows qualifying stolen-property records to include both a manufacturer’s serial number and an OAN.
This gives investigators an additional means of identifying property recovered during an investigation.
However, an OAN does not automatically create an NCIC record. The theft must be reported, the property must meet applicable entry requirements, and an authorized law enforcement agency must enter the information.
Source: FBI — National Crime Information Center, Federal Register Notice.
Why Are OANs Important After a Theft?
Consider a stolen bicycle recovered hundreds of miles from its original location.
Its manufacturer’s serial number may identify the bicycle, but an additional owner-applied identifier could help connect it to a police report or property registration record.
When filing a police report, owners should provide the make, model, serial number, and OAN whenever available.
These records may improve the probability of connecting recovered property to a reported theft.
How My Property ID Registry Uses OANs
My Property ID Registry (MPIDR) modernizes Operation Identification through individually numbered asset tags, a privacy-protected online registry and warning signs.
Each numbered tag is associated with a customer’s account. Owners can also record manufacturers, models, and serial numbers.
If tagged property is recovered, its identifying number can be submitted through MPIDR’s FOUND portal, providing a means of notifying the registered owner without publicly disclosing personal information.
Conclusion
A serial number identifies an object. An Owner Applied Number adds another means of connecting that object to its owner.
When supported by accurate registration records and police reporting, OANs can strengthen the evidentiary pathway between stolen property, its rightful owner and a reported crime.
