Is there some way I can check from the serial number if a laptop I buy (or am about to buy), is reported stolen? Is there any site with a complete list of stolen serial numbers. I checked these sites.

http://www.appleserialnumberinfo.com/
http://www.stoleme.co.nz/

Plus a google search using the serial number finds nothing.

Is that about the limit of what I can do to check?

If it was a car I could check here:
http://www.police.govt.nz/stolen/vehicles

The laptop came from a second hand shop and the seller has good feedback on trademe, so I'm not suspecting any wrongdoing on his part, but I'm wondering what a buyer can do to protect themselves.