GB2345823A

GB2345823A - Theft detection apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2345823A
Application number: GB9825113A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kevin Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-11-16
Filing date: 1998-11-16
Publication date: 2000-07-19
Also published as: GB9825113D0

Abstract

A theft detection system comprises miniature electronic tagging units comprising microcircuits on semiconductor chips. The units are provided in or attached to goods 1 and the system includes control means 3 for deactivating the tags by encoded sound or radio signals. Alarm means 5 at an appropriate position in or beside a retail premises radiates a sound or radio signal which powers the tags, such that an active tag will radiate a signal signifying unauthorised removal of an article.

Description

THEFT DETECTION APPARATUS This invention relates to a theft detection apparatus, more particularly but not exclusively to a device for detecting theft of goods from retail outlets.

The use of magnetic strips to protect books and larger, often disc shaped devices that can be lockably attached to garments is well known. Such devices rely upon either demagnetisation of the strip or removal of the disc at the point of sale, thus avoiding triggering detector devices at the exit or the shop/store.

Discs, commonly used for protecting garments suffer the disadvantage of being clearly visible to the potential thief and thus susceptible to tampering.

It is an object of the invention to provide a theft detection apparatus using a miniature electronic tagging unit making it particularly difficult for the potential thief to detect and so particularly well suited for protecting sales goods.

In one aspect the invention provides a system for detecting the unauthorised removal of articles from premises where such articles are kept, the system comprising electronic tagging units provided in or attached to the articles, control means for communicating with the units and for deactivating a unit to authorise removal of the associated article, and sensing and alarm means at an appropriate position in or adjacent to said premises for sensing the passage of a still activated unit.

In another aspect the invention provides a method of detecting theft of articles from sales premises comprising fixing or inserting a miniature electronic tagging unit, that can be deactivated by remote control systems, to the article; means of deactivating the tagging units at the point of sale and means of detecting goods with still activated tagging units leaving the premises.

In order that the invention may be well understood one preferred embodiment of the invention will be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of part of a garment and a de-activating device.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of the Figure 1 garment and a sender/receiver device.

The embodiment to be described is intended for use in a clothing sales outlet.

It comprises a tagging unit 2 of which the operation and construction are based on known missing property recovery devices, for example, stolen vehicle recovery apparatus.

The unit 2 comprises an electronic microcircuit on a semiconductor chip. The unit 2 may be active or deactivated. It may be in the active state, as manufactured or it may be rendered active by irradiation with appropriate sound, sonar or radio waves. The unit operates as a passive transponder, i. e. it does not in itself generate signals but it does receive signals, say from a sender/receiver device 5 and these signals power up the unit 2 and, if it is active, it is caused to return with an identical or corresponding signal recognisable to the sensor device 6. The unit 2, could be loaded with other units 2, onto a film which is then loaded into a label printer (or a separate printer) and the individual units adhered to respective labels produced by the printer (or printers). A label with an active tagging unit is affixed to each garment to be protected.

When a customer purchases a protected article 1, the activated tagging unit 2 is deactivated, for example by a salesperson, using a transmitter or scanner 3 that sends an encoded sound, sonar or radio 4 signal to the electronic tagging unit thereby deactivating it. If someone attempts to steal an article protected by an activated tagging unit 2, it will be detected by a suitably located sensing device 5 which sends sound, sonar or radio waves 6 to the electronic tagging unit. The electronic tagging unit responds to this signal by emitting a similar but less powerful signal 7 of differing frequency. This modified frequency signal or echo is detected by the sensing unit which triggers an alarm 8 that alerts security staff of a possible theft. Typically the sensing unit will be located at an exit point. Deactivated units do not modify the signal from the sensing device and thus as no echo is produced they do not trigger the alarm.

Ideally, the tagging unit 2 is made small enough not to be easily noticed or to be capable of being hidden in the goods to be sold. For example, each tagging unit 2 could be fixed on top of or in place of a letter or digit within a word or number printed on a label. Each label could carry a bar code or other code word. If not already active, each tagging unit 2 is now made active by the sound, sonar or radio signal generator (not shown). The tagging unit may be produced on a film, for example, for attachment to garment labels or may be built into articles that are to be sold. It can be switched on and off using sound, sonar or radio wave transmissions. When so activated the tagging unit responds to sound, sonar or radio waves radiated by sensing units. The electronic tagging unit may be attached to the goods and then activated, for example, at the place of manufacture, in stores warehouses or at the point of sale.

Each individual store or group of stores may use tagging units having a unique codes built into the microchip. In another embodiment of the invention each store/shop would scan articles having tagging unit to identify the article and so update their stock control systems.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A system for detecting the unauthorised removal of articles from premises where such articles are kept, the system comprising electronic tagging units provided in or attached to the articles, control means for communicating with the units and for deactivating a unit to authorise removal of the associated article, and sensing and alarm means at an appropriate position in or adjacent to said premises for sensing the passage of a still activated unit.
2. A theft detection apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the control means comprises a radio or acoustic transmitter.
3. A theft detection apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein a unit is activated by encoded sound, sonar or radio signals.
4. A theft detection apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the sensing means comprise a radio or acoustic transmitter.
5. A theft detection apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the tagging unit of modifies the frequency of the signal from the sensing means which it then radiates for detection by the sensing means.
6. A theft detection apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the unit is less than Imm long and lmm wide.
7. A theft detection apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the tagging unit microchip contains a unique code for each user and/or type of article.
8. A method of detecting theft of articles from sales premises comprising fixing or inserting a miniature electronic tagging unit, that can be deactivated by remote control systems, to the article; means of deactivating the tagging units at the point of sale and means of detecting goods with still activated tagging units leaving the premises.