Abstract: Bar code labels, each bearing a pre-identified insignia, each insignia corresponding to a unique owner, are affixed to the personal possessions of a number of owners. A set of owner identifiers are stored in a first location wherein each owner identifier corresponds to a unique owner. For each owner identifier stored, a set of identifying data is also stored. Each identifying data corresponds to one of the set of bar code labels. At a second location, remote from the first, identifying data corresponding to the identifying insignia on one of the labels is input by scanning the bar code. The input identifying data is transmitted to the first location and compared with one or more of the set of identifying data stored at the first location. If the input identifying data matches one of the set of identifying data, the owner identifier is retrieved and displayed.