[…] small Spanish technology company, Myruns, and telecommunications operator Telefónica SA about the possible application of a system based on an anti-theft alarm product so thin it’s imperceptible to the naked eye
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The technology from Myruns, in San Sebastian, Spain, may be just one of the efforts to curb thefts that have been studied by Inditex, which declined to comment on specific projects. Myruns’ product, which one of the people says is five times thinner than a human hair, or about a thousandth of an inch, uses a conductive ink derived from cellulose to transmit signals. It can set off alarms if someone walks out of a shop with items whose woven-in tags haven’t been deactivated, according to the people. The novel ink replaces aluminum, the main material used in most alarms. That would mean retailers wouldn’t need to rely on the metal for alarms, making the devices potentially biodegradable and supporting the garments’ recyclability.
Competitors that make threadlike radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology containing metals include Primo1D, an offshoot of a research center in Grenoble, France; and RFID Threads Ltd., in Nottingham, England, formerly known as Adetex.ID.
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Pressure to improve profitability and reduce losses has pushed many retailers to step up their traditional anti-theft efforts. Inditex rival Hennes & Mauritz AB, or H&M, has increased the number of security guards at its stores, including in the US. Associated British Foods Plc’s Primark has also hired more security staff, in addition to investing in closed-circuit television systems and body cameras worn by staff. And in the UK, retailers such as John Lewis, Sainsbury’s and Tesco have teamed up with law enforcement to help fund a team of police and intelligence officers targeting shoplifters.
The lack of visible security can encourage shoplifting, but more drastic measures can impede sales, says Martin Gill, a UK-based consultant whose work involves testing retailers’ security by trying to steal things.
“Certain retail strategies, which aim to boost sales, have made it much easier to steal,” he says. “The key for good security is not to stop theft from happening at all costs, but do as much as possible to reduce the number of offenses. It’s always about the balance between sales and security.”
Source: Retailers Eye High-Tech Tags to Stop Shoplifting – Bloomberg
Robin Edgar
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