Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) are the plastic and metal security tags that are fitted to goods, and removed or deactivated by the assistant at the checkout when the item is purchased.
If a tag is not removed, when the customer tries to leave the store the sensors in the detection system at the exit pick up the presence of the tag and sound an alarm to alert staff.
EAS systems may be magnetic, acousto-magnetic, radio frequency, microwave, or linked to video surveillance systems. Most apparel retailers and suppliers now tag their high value products electronically. Such systems save retailers millions of dollars a year in what would otherwise be lost stock or ‘shrinkage.’ According to a recent loss prevention study, shrinkage cost US businesses $48.9 billion annually and global retailers more than $123 billion annually.
Some manufacturers now fit EAS security tags at source, rather than leaving it to the retailer. Source tagging allows the EAS tags to be concealed and they are more difficult to remove. It also saves the retailer time and expense and helps to further reduce theft.
Contribution to Retail History
Retailers of clothing and high value items have always fought a running battle against shoplifters. The EAS system acts as a deterrent to theft of goods, thereby improving retailers’ profitability. It also delivers an effective way to catch the perpetrators. Although it still requires security staff to apprehend the potential thief, it enables them to identify them in the act, helping to support subsequent prosecution.