Anti-Shoplifting System

The most widely used systems in the United States today and RF tags and labels are getting smaller all the time. As you can see in the drawing at the right, the RF EAS system works like this: A label -- basically a miniature, disposable electronic circuit and antenna -- attached to a product responds to a specific frequency emitted by a transmitter antenna (usually one pedestal of the entry/exit gate). The response from the label is then picked up by an adjacent receiver antenna (the other pedestal).



This processes the label response signal and will trigger an alarm when it matches specific criteria. The distance between the two gates, or pedestals, can be up to 80 inches wide. Operating frequencies for RF systems generally range from 2 to 10 MHz (millions of cycles per second); this has become standard in many countries. Most of the time, RF systems use a frequency sweep technique in order to deal with different label frequencies.



Sometimes both the transmitter and receiver are combined in one antenna frame -- these are called mono systems and they can apply pulse or continuous sweep techniques or a combination of both. According to Tag Point Ltd. experts, mono systems could be effective for you if your store's entry is small. The mono system is used with hard labels, which are slightly more expensive than paper labels used with RF sweep techniques.

Many access control systems use network for communication purpose and information is communicated through these networks.

Used by many retail chain stores, supermarkets and libraries around the world. In this technology, a magnetic, iron-containing strip with an adhesive layer is attached to the merchandise. This strip is not removed at checkout -- it's simply deactivated by a scanner that uses a specific highly intense magnetic field. (One of the advantages of the EM strip is that it can be re-activated and used at a low cost.)



What most people refer to as an electromagnetic tag is actually a metal wire or ribbon that has high permeability, making it easy for magnetic signals to flow through it, according to Sensormatic's EAS Product Co. CTO Hap Patterson. "When we drive the tag, flux is being allowed to flow through the tag until it's saturated," he says. "When it's saturated, from a magnetic perspective, it begins to look like air. Saturation occurs abruptly and is an important part of the design of the tag."

Look at the figure showing the EM system with its receive coil and transmitter on either side and tag in the middle. When the tag goes from active to saturated, the receiver detects the change in the amount of the signal picked up from the transmitter. "If you look at the receiver signal, you'll see a bump when saturation occurs," Patterson says.



Saturation occurs twice each cycle-once on the transmitter's positive cycle and once on its negative cycle. What is happening is the system is checking for the special material used to make the tag. (In scientific terms, the permeability of steel is much lower than the metal used to make the tag. In addition, when steel goes to saturation, it tends to do so slowly, not abruptly. So the EM system uses these differences to differentiate between a still-active tagged item leaving the store and a wrench in someone's pocket.)

Has the ability to protect wide exits and allows for high-speed label application, uses a transmitter to create a surveillance area where tags and labels are detected. The transmitter sends a radio frequency signal (of about 58 kHz) in pulses, which energize a tag in the surveillance zone. When the pulse ends, the tag responds, emitting a single frequency signal like a tuning fork.

While the transmitter is off between pulses, the tag signal is detected by a receiver. A microcomputer checks the tag signal detected by the receiver to ensure it is at the right frequency, is time-synchronized to the transmitter, at the proper level and at the correct repetition rate. If all these criteria are met, the alarm occurs.
AM material is highly magnetostrictive, which means that when you put the tag material in a magnetic field, it physically shrinks. The higher the magnetic field strength the smaller the metal becomes. The metal actually shrinks about one-thousandth of an inch over its full 1.50 inch length.



As a result of driving the tag with a magnetic field, the tag is physically getting smaller and larger. So if it is driven at a mechanically resonant frequency, it works like a tuning fork, absorbing energy and beginning to ring.
This tag also requires bias magnet material in addition to active element material. The active material will shrink no matter which direction the magnetic field is placed upon it. If the tag is driven with Frequency, F, it gets smaller as the magnetic field increases and larger as it's driven towards zero.



This means that while it is being driven at F, the tag is trying to work at 2F, because at both positive and negative halves of the drive signal, the tag is getting smaller. To get the tag to work at F, a bias field is required. The bias is provided by a semi-hard magnetic element in the label. When magnetized, the bias prevents the active element from ever being in a zero field condition. So for an entire half of the drive signal, the tag shrinks. Then it expands for the other half. This results in an F response.

Manual and powered detachers in multiple styles. This allows Stars Tech Solutions to provide retailers product protection solutions that work with their POS and:


- Easily remove hard tags from protected merchandise at point of sale.
- Efficiently enhance checkout throughput and customer experience.
- In multiple designs and flexible installation options for nearly any retail environment.
- They are special instruments to open and remove hard tags.

Clothing Hand-Held Detacher is a manual unit designed to open AM58khz super tags, Tough moulded plastic makes the unit both durable and lightweight while an ambidextrous design accommodates both right-handed and left-handed users. The detacher provides a channel in the base of the handle that can be used to straighten bent tacks on hard tags.This AM magnetic alarm clothes detacher is easy to remove the hard tags from clothes.



The Super Designer Detacher has is one of the strongest EAS tag detachers in its class while at the same time retaining a sleek, polished look to blend in with your checkout environment. The magnet rating of this Detacher is 12000GS. The Super Designer Detacher will remove almost all RF tags including the Designer Tamper Resistant Tags.

Stealth Pad:
Stealth Pad is a compact label deactivator designed for minimal counter space. It is configured for tabletop operation but, can also be flush mounted to the countertop. It provides both audible and visual notification of deactivation. Stealth Pad provides up to 4" deactivation distance and has optional password protection. Stealth Pad is an excellent product for both source and retailer tagged merchandise.




Fast Pad:
Fast Pad provides human, machine interface for label deactivation and efficiency. It can be either tabletop or flush mounted to any countertop. Fast Pad provides up to 4" deactivation distance and password protection option.



Lynx
Lynx is a distance label deactivator designed solely for flush mounting on the countertop. It scans and deactivates labels in all orientations. As a distance deactivator, the label need not come into direct contact with the deactivator; simply passing the product over Lynx, is all it takes! No buttons or lights means complete simplicity and ease of use for all employees. Lynx features up to 3.2" deactivation range.



Double Checker:
The Double Checker Deactivator is so named because of its two-step testing for complete label deactivation. One swipe deactivates the label, a second swipe tests to confirm deactivation. It also features a terrific vertical detection range of up to 6 inches. This powerful tool can also deactivate labels source tagged on the inside of product packages.

Hand held metal detectors are designed for fast and efficient daily use, to accurately detect knives, weapons, and blunt metal objects.
It is an alternative and complementary tool to fixed scanners, which bring more mobility and flexibility.
A single sweep scan on a subject's body or on a travel bag is sufficient to detect hidden metal objects.
With high sensitivity to all metals, your teams can easily detects weapons, metal objects, in all situations, in compliance with the latest security standards :

- Airports and boarding docks
- Festivals and music lines
- Door security at nightclubs
- Crowed indoors events
- Sporting events and stadia
- Educational and local institutions

Typical uses include body search for offensive weapons in crowd control, airport and border security, as well as checking parcels and letters for metal objects.
Maintain privacy while searching. During the search, it is recommended not to touch the person being searched with a handheld metal detector.
For more effective work with a metal detector to identify prohibited metal objects, it is necessary to conduct regular testing of personnel, measures to improve the skills and training of security personnel and law enforcement agencies.
- Handheld metal detector when scanning a person should be at a distance of 5-10 cm from the body.
Avoid touching the body or clothing of the person being searched with the metal detector. However, in some cases, when inspecting a person in outerwear (down jackets, jackets, coats, etc.), it is necessary to bring the metal detector to the body of the inspected person at a distance of less than 5 cm to ensure the best quality in detecting metal objects.

The RF handheld detector is non-contact detection device, which can be used for up to 150mm from the sourced product. Any anti-theft tag in the region can be detected, the unit then permits a small LED and Audio Alert. Security staff can check suspected customers for the non-payment of goods by a handheld detection. It can also be used as a Double Checker and too check items wherever they are still tagged or not!

Walk through metal detectors are based on pulse induction (PI) technology. PI systems use a coil of wire on one side of the arch as the transmitter and receiver. This technology sends powerful, short bursts (pulses) of current through the coil of wire. Each pulse generates a brief magnetic field.



Walk-through metal detectors utilize magnetic fields to detect metal that passes through them. The science behind how they work is based on Maxwell's equations. The latest detectors include multiple detection zones allowing them to pinpoint the location of the metal causing the alarm. They have been proven to be a safe and effective method for maintaining security.



When an electric pulse is sent through a coil of wire, it creates a magnetic field. When the field hits a metal object, it reflects back and can be detected using another coil of wire. The size and timing of the detected pulse is used to define the size and position of the object.

Security tags can be broadly broken down into three main categories: electronic article surveillance (EAS) tags, visual deterrent tags and benefit denial.

EAS tags used by 73 per cent of retailers according to the most recent Global Retail Theft Barometer, EAS security tags are the most effective tag type to combat theft. The EAS system sees tags in communication with an antenna housed near the entrance to a store. When the tagged item comes into proximity of this antenna, an alarm sounds, alerting staff to a potential threat.
There are two main EAS systems (radio frequency and acousto magnetic) and the difference is the frequency at which the tags and antenna operate.

Visual tags:
Visual tags give the appearance that an EAS system is in place but do not actually have a receiver that communicates with an antenna. This means they offer a visual deterrent for shoplifters rather than sounding an alarm and alerting staff when an item is being stolen. In addition to different types of tags, there are different shapes and styles available which are designed to suit different merchandise.



Benefit denial:
Benefit denial tags see the stolen merchandise negatively impacted when the thief tries to remove the tag. The most common form is ink dye tags which release indelible ink when the tag is tampered with, effectively rendering the stolen item useless.



Clothing tags:
Clothing tags comprise three key elements; the tag (which houses the receiver in the case of EAS), the pin (which goes through the garment) and the locking mechanism (which secures the pin in place). There are two widely used types of locking mechanisms available; magnetic and mechanical, with magnetic tags available in a series of strengths ranging from standard to SuperLock, HyperLock and Multi-polar. The stronger the magnetic lock, the harder the tag is to illegally remove, which is why a minimum strength of SuperLock is recommended. Some of the most common shapes for fashion tags include alligator tags, which have a hinge, pencil tags, which are long and thin, square tags, and round or shell tags. In terms of security, shell tags are the shape considered hardest to prise open and remove illegally. In addition to the strength of the locking mechanism and shape of the tag, a key factor to consider when selecting clothing tags is the size of the pin-head. The larger the pinhead the less likely it is to be illegally removed by pulling it through the garment.



Fashion accessory tags:
Whether the product is shoes, a handbag or jewelry, there are a range of options when it comes to securing accessories using security tags. The most popular options include cable strap and lanyard tags. These use strong cables, ties or lanyards, affix the security tag to the accessory. These cables and lanyards often feature materials that are resistant to being cut, and the lanyard or strap can secure into the tag's locking mechanism.



Bottle tags:
One of the most frequently targeted items for theft is liquor bottles, with the Global Retail Theft Barometer noting spirits are often easy to conceal and can be resold at a high value. In fact, wines and spirits are the number one food item targeted by shoplifters globally. Bottle tags specifically target this type of theft, providing a visual deterrent in addition to EAS security.



Optical tags:
For retailers of eyeglasses and sunglasses, merchandise security is a must. Classed as a fashion accessory, sunglasses sit in the second most commonly targeted theft category for the apparel and accessory sector. Optical tags are specifically designed to sit in the arm of eyewear, allowing the consumer to try items on.

Disposable tags:
Disposable paper tags and labels are available in many different types -- pressure-sensitive labels with simulated bar codes, tags or labels that can be imprinted with price, inventory, promotional or bar-code information, and tags specially designed for products such as earrings, compact discs and cosmetics, which are all items easily pocketed by shoplifters. These thin, adhesive-backed labels can be as small as a paper clip and can be easily disguised to look like standard retail tags. Most importantly, the radio frequency tags, unlike tags connected to some electromagnetic sensors, can't be disrupted by common magnets.



Soft Tags deter theft by sounding alarms. These security labels can be deactivated at checkout with a standard AM deactivator. Soft Tags adhere to your merchandise and work with EAS security systems. The security tags will sound alarms at your entryway if not deactivated. Soft tags are a common practice for loss prevention solutions.



Labels provide the easiest form of merchandise protection. Applicable to nearly all types of merchandise, they are compatible with all of WG's 58 kHz EAS systems and can be deactivated at the point-of-sale with a variety of deactivators. Very popular for securing non-garment items such as books and small electronics.