A method to assess a state of a portable item as being extant (503.1) or being displaced (503.0); the method performed by a hardware processor configured for use when the processor is at least one of collocated with and attached to, or embedded within, the portable item; the processor coupled with a non-volatile memory (206.M.N) and with one or more environmental sensors which are also collocated with and attached to or embedded within the portable item including at least a location sensor (210.L); the method comprising: storing in the non-volatile memory (206.M.N.) an item usage expectation comprising a plurality of locations of the portable item comprising: an expected location (144.L) where the portable item is expected to be used by an authorised user or stored during non-use in an authorised user-controlled location during a specified time range (105, 144.T) or at a specified time (105, 144.T), and an allowed location (140.DL, 140.HB, 140.Z, 140.CR) other than the expected location where the portable item is allowed to be at least one of: during the specified time range (105, 144.T), at the specified time (105, 144.T), or at a time or during time ranges other than the specified time or time range; receiving from the location sensor (210.L) a current location (104.L) for the portable item; comparing locally via the hardware processor: the current location (104.L) with the plurality of locations defined in the usage expectation; and assessing locally by the hardware processor, based on the comparison, whether during the specified time range (105, 144.T) or at the specified time (105, 144.T) the portable item is at least one of: located at the expected location (144.L), or located at the allowed location (140.DL, 140.HB, 140.Z, 140.CR); making a determination via the hardware processor, based on the assessment, as to whether the portable item is extant (503.1) or displaced (503.0); and in response to an assessment that the portable item is displaced, signalling, via the hardware processor, an alert (372, 374) that the portable item is displaced. storing in the non-volatile memory (206.M.N.) an item usage expectation comprising a plurality of locations of the portable item comprising: an expected location (144.L) where the portable item is expected to be used by an authorised user or stored during non-use in an authorised user-controlled location during a specified time range (105, 144.T) or at a specified time (105, 144.T), and an allowed location (140.DL, 140.HB, 140.Z, 140.CR) other than the expected location where the portable item is allowed to be at least one of: during the specified time range (105, 144.T), at the specified time (105, 144.T), or at a time or during time ranges other than the specified time or time range; an expected location (144.L) where the portable item is expected to be used by an authorised user or stored during non-use in an authorised user-controlled location during a specified time range (105, 144.T) or at a specified time (105, 144.T), and an allowed location (140.DL, 140.HB, 140.Z, 140.CR) other than the expected location where the portable item is allowed to be at least one of: during the specified time range (105, 144.T), at the specified time (105, 144.T), or at a time or during time ranges other than the specified time or time range; receiving from the location sensor (210.L) a current location (104.L) for the portable item; comparing locally via the hardware processor: the current location (104.L) with the plurality of locations defined in the usage expectation; and the current location (104.L) with the plurality of locations defined in the usage expectation; and located at the expected location (144.L), or located at the allowed location (140.DL, 140.HB, 140.Z, 140.CR); making a determination via the hardware processor, based on the assessment, as to whether the portable item is extant (503.1) or displaced (503.0); and in response to an assessment that the portable item is displaced, signalling, via the hardware processor, an alert (372, 374) that the portable item is displaced.