Having our camera stolen is surely annoying, especially if the thief manages to get away with your bagful of high-cost lenses as well! Tracking a missing smartphone is relatively easier, but not cameras with their far limited connectivity options.
Nikon may eventually apply password protection that makes it harder for thieves to use or sell stolen photography equipments. Cameras equipped with these lenses will require passwords or they’ll refuse to shoot.
Obviously, the new password mechanism won’t bring the lenses back to the original owner, but it should make stealing them an unnecessary risk to take. The patent was filed in September and there’s no word when Nikon lenses with this technology will be available for purchase.