Tucking a microchip into a beloved pet is now a common form of identification across Europe and America. The tiny electronic tags are inserted into the fold of the neck where they can be accessed by generic scanners to deliver information about owners, treatment history and any other relevant facts. The success of the technology has apparently spurred on some enterprising folk to develop the same thing for ordinary non-living products, which is definitely an interesting and bold extension of the idea. 

The Theft Recovery Microchip again uses the same sort of radio wave tech to deliver information and ID data of the tagged product. The chip is registered with a central database, and then embedded in or on the product in question. Since it’s around the size of a fragment of pencil lead, it’s easy to hide on things like bicycles, stereo and television systems, musical instruments, paintings or even a favorite rug (!).

Of course it needs a good percentage of local authorities or specialist dealers to carry the relevant scanners, but that should happen naturally once the chips become more popular, as it did with pets. The chips can be bought in packs of five for $99.95, including a tube of epoxy glue for mounting.