Due to funding cutbacks, law enforcement agencies in California have lost the ability to apply government Owner Applied Numbers to farm and construction equipment. These numbers are the only ones that are useable by law enforcement through NCIC. Unlike a motor vehicles, heavy equipment has no VIN numbers. Serial numbers are virtually impossible to track due to the lack of a standard location or format. This is why the OAN program is so important. California Equipment Identification Services core role is to get these numbers applied at an affordable cost and in the correct location. If your property is stolen the chance of recovery is enhanced. While the numbers are no longer being applied by law enforcement, they are still issued free to the public and computer database maintained.