Method and system for carrying out iterative appearance searching

A system comprising:

• at least one processor configured to receive at least one first reference image within which a missing object is not shown;
• and
• at least one electronic storage medium storing program instructions that when executed by the at least one processor cause the at least one processor to perform:
• employing the at least one first reference image to carry out a first instance, computer vision-driven appearance search of first video data captured across a respective first set of a plurality of first security cameras, the first instance, computer vision-driven appearance search determining that the missing object is included in a portion of the first video data that has been recorded;
• obtaining a second reference image, having a respective relevance confidence that satisfies a confidence threshold condition, from the portion of the first video data, and the missing object being shown within the second reference image;
• employing the second reference image for a second instance, computer vision-driven appearance search of second video data captured across a respective second set of a plurality of second security cameras, and wherein the second instance, computer vision-driven appearance search occurs after the first instance, computer vision-driven appearance search without any intervening user input;
• and
• causing a display screen to display video or image data results from the second instance, computer vision-driven appearance search at least when the video or image data results meets search success criteria.