Monitoring systems and methods for identifying an object of interest after the object of interest has undergone a change in appearance. One example provides an image sensor is configured to monitor a first area. A first electronic processor is configured to detect a first appearance of an object of interest within the first area, and determine a visual characteristic of the object of interest. The first electronic processor is configured to receive a first notification indicative of movement of the object of interest into a second area and an access input, and associate the visual characteristic of the object of interest with the access input. The first electronic processor is configured to detect a second appearance of the object of interest within the first area, and update the visual characteristic of the object of interest based on the second appearance of the object of interest.