An article in the SF Chronicle talks about the latest crime rings and the organization it takes.
Essentially, a team steals items from a store and places them on EBay or a flea market 'for sale'. They sneak items out of stores in three ways:
1) By having an inside person ring-up a sale -- or... not.
2) By changing the barcode on the item they are purchasing.
3) By using a 'booster bag' (Photo from SF Chronicle) and getting around the electronic article detectors at door ways.
First... It's sad that people steal stuff. But, basically, we're all still monkeys. I'm just glad they aren't throwing too much poo anymore.
EAS systems (Electronic Article Surveillance) use a very low cost sensor with a very short range read. These sensors, installed in nearly every store, stop casual shoplifters. But, they don't stop the determined professionals. Nox stops even professionals. Nox uses a long-range sensor so it monitors everything within 30-40'. If an item is dropped in a 'booster bag', it would disappear from the sensor grid and we'd know we need to look and see what's happening to that item.
Of course, Nox sensors do cost a little more -- 20 cents vs. 3 cents per tag. This makes it more useful on higher value items.
