Store security tags

[Carol Anne]

My son had right good laugh at the weekend by peeling the little tag that was stuck to the box (for a toaster) in my trolley and some how managing to stick it under the collar of my coat.

As you can imagine when we left the store the alarm went off, and the guard came over and pushed the trolley out for me, then beckoned me forward and all hell broke loose again. This time he asked if he could look in my bag, at the same time this woman came over and stood beside me. As you can imagine I was mortified., although they were very nice about it, I couldn't help feeling they thought I might have stolen something.

When we got back to the car he told me what he'd done, and if his pal hadn't been with us I would have planted him. Later just out of curiosity I cut this wee thing open and all it contained was a bit of foil. How can such a simple thing be so effective?

[Buenchico]

The 'gate' sensors, at the store's exits, emit low-frequenccy radio signals. The tags are designed so that, when these radio signals are absorbed, they emit 'harmonic' radio frequencies. The sensors pick these up and sound the alarm.

The design of the tags is such that, if the metals within them are magnetized (at the check-out), they no longer emit harmonics and so the alarm doesn't sound:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_article_surveill ance

I once bought some books from a store in Norwich. When I reached the exit, the alarm sounded, so I headed back to the sales counter. The assistant saw my problem and, because he was busy, said "Don't worry about it. I know you've paid. Just walk through". So I left without any problems. Unfortunately, that bookshop was the first store that I'd visited that afternoon. After triggering the alarm in 5 other stores, I had to return to the bookshop before I dared continue with my shopping!

Chris

[stevie21]

This isn't your son is it? Cheeky wee beggar!
http://tinyurl.com/ckn5b