Electronic article surveillance

Common card · No. 493175

Electronic article surveillance (EAS) is a type of system used to prevent shoplifting from retail stores, pilferage of books from libraries, or unwanted removal of property from office buildings. EAS systems typically consist of two components: EAS antennas (colloquially anti-theft detectors or towers) and EAS tags or labels (security tags or hard tags). EAS tags are attached to merchandise; these tags should only be removed or deactivated by employees when the item is properly purchased or checked out. If merchandise bearing an active tag passes by an antenna installed at an entrance or exit, an alarm sounds alerting staff that merchandise is leaving the store unauthorized. Tags may also contain ink. Some stores also have antennas at entrances to restrooms to deter shoppers from taking unpaid-for merchandise into the restroom where they could remove the tags.

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