A portable electronic device has a display, a device positioning module, and a wireless communication module. Using a first application, the device: determines whether predetermined locator timing criteria are satisfied; if the predetermined locator timing criteria are satisfied, searches for wireless signals transmitted from wireless signaling devices; if wireless signals, transmitted from the wireless signaling devices, are identified from the searching, determines whether the identified wireless signals satisfy predetermined locator wireless signal criteria. If the identified wireless signals satisfy the predetermined locator wireless signal criteria, the device identifies an identifier of a respective wireless signaling device of the wireless signaling devices; identifies a geographic location of the portable electronic device; and sends to a remote server system the identifier of the respective wireless signaling device and the geographic location of the portable electronic device.