The invention addresses the problem of efficiently locating a target device such as a mobile phone, by directing the movement of moveable wireless beacons along a search pattern, using the target device as a moveable wireless beacon detection device. Preferably, the target device is equipped with a WiFi and/or Bluetooth radio and the moveable wireless beacons are WiFi-equipped and/or Bluetooth-equipped mobile phones in possession of first responders. To locate a target device, the WiFi and/or Bluetooth radios in the moveable wireless beacons are activated such that they transmit a unique identifier. As moveable wireless beacons report their locations and as the target device reports updated beacon detection information, movement directions are determined and sent to the moveable wireless beacons to coordinate an efficient search of the target device. Once at least one moveable wireless beacon is detected by the target mobile phone, updated movement directions are provided to the moveable wireless beacon to direct them toward the target device.