What is Electronic Article Surveillance?
Electronic article surveillance, or EAS, is an anti-shoplifting system used by retail businesses. It involves attaching an electronically-detectable tag to the item of clothing or merchandise. Nowadays, a lot of merchandise has these tags incorporated into their packaging. In other cases, the tags have to be attached by the store.
When the item is purchased, the tag is either removed or deactivated. Tags are typically removed from clothing, while merchandise with the tag incorporated into packaging are usually passed over a pad that deactivates the tag.
The detectors are located at the store exits. If one of the active tags passes through the detectors, an alarm goes off.
Click to read a very interesting explanation of the science behind EAS.
Is EAS expensive?
There is some initial expense involved with installing the detectors, buying the tags, and removal or deactivation devices. Whether EAS is "expensive" really depends on whether you carry enough merchandise and have a big enough problem with shoplifting to justify it.
Do I have all the pieces in place for EAS?
EAS works because people are afraid of being caught if they try to steal a tagged item. If the detectors don't work (some people use dummy detectors), or there is no way to catch someone heading out the door with something they didn't buy, then EAS probably won't work as well as it can. The possibility of embarrassment will stop some shoplifters, but the more serious ones may just change how they leave the store.
So ask yourself before installing EAS...
- Do I have a way of ensuring that someone exiting the store can be caught if they set off the detector?
- Do I want to expose my staff to possible physical harm and legal liability if they try to catch the people who set off the detector?
- Can the merchandise that is most frequently shoplifted be easily tagged?
- Is it worth putting tags on things that might often be shoplifted but are inexpensive? For example, if you run a convenience store and have problems with kids stealing candy, does it really make sense to put tags on chocolate bars and gum?
