How to find the right Retail Anti-Theft Equipment AI guide
Written by an AI model from its trained knowledge.
What the AI looks for in Retail Anti-Theft Equipment
- System frequency match
- Tags and labels must match the frequency of your door gates: acoustomagnetic (AM, 58 kHz) or radio frequency (RF, 8.2 MHz). The two cannot be mixed. A tag on the wrong frequency is invisible to the gates. This is the most common way buyers waste money in this category.
- Detacher compatibility
- Match the detacher to the tag's locking mechanism, for example standard magnetic, high-strength magnetic or a proprietary lock. Stronger locks need stronger or matching detachers. A mismatched pair means staff cannot remove tags at checkout.
- Tag type for merchandise
- Use pin or lanyard hard tags for apparel, bottle caps for liquor, spider wraps or keepers for boxed goods, and adhesive labels for packaging. The wrong tag damages goods or is easy to strip off.
- Deactivation compatibility
- Disposable labels must be deactivatable by the deactivation pad you already have at your registers. Labels that do not deactivate set off alarms on customers who have paid.
Brands that matter
- Sensormatic: The reference AM (58 kHz) EAS ecosystem.
- Checkpoint Systems: The reference RF (8.2 MHz) EAS ecosystem.
- Alpha: Hard tags, keepers and spider wraps for high-theft items.
What to avoid
- Buying tags before confirming whether your gates are AM or RF.
- Unbranded super-lock tags with no matching detacher listed.
- Cheap gate kits with no stated detection width for your doorway.
Questions
How do I tell if my system is AM or RF?
Check the label on the gate pedestals or ask the installer. AM systems typically use thicker rectangular labels, and RF systems use thin, square, foil-like labels.