Shoplifting alarm system and method

Claim 1

A shoplifting alarm/deterent system comprising in combination: (a) a first pedestal-like housing means positioned in a store adjacent to one side of an exit of the store; (b) a second pedestal-like housing means in the store positioned adjacent to an opposite side of the exit, said second pedestal-like housing means having an appearance substantially similar to the appearance of said first pedestal-like housing means; (c) means for wirelessly transmitting a first signal indicating detection by an employee of shoplifting activity by a would-be shoplifter, said transmitting means including manually actuatable switching means for causing said transmitting means to transmit said first signal; (d) receiving means concealed in said second pedestal-like housing means for receiving said first signal and producing an alarm actuating signal in response to said first signal; and (e) alarm means responsive to said alarm actuating signal for producing an audible alarm sound.

Claim 8

A method of deterring shoplifting activity in a store and producing an alarm signal in response to detecting of shoplifting, said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing an external appearance on a pedestal-like housing to cause said external appearance to be similar to the appearance of other known housings used in other stores and known by shoplifters to contain detecting apparatus that physically detects detection tags on merchandise carried past said other known housings; (b) concealing a receiver for receiving and detecting wireless signals in said pedestal-like housing; (c) placing said dummy pedestal-like housing adjacent to an exit of said store, whereby the similarity of said pedestal-like housing to said known housings suggests to would-be shoplifters that said pedestal-like housing contains detecting apparatus that can detect unauthorized removal of merchandise through the exit; (d) visual detection by an employee of said store, of shoplifting of a merchandise item by a shoplifter; (e) manual actuation by said employee, of a hand-held wireless transmitter to cause said transmitter to transmit said wireless signal to said receiver; (f) producing said alarm signal, by means of said receiver, in response to said wireless signal; and (g) actuating an alarm device in response to said alarm signal to indicate the presence of the shoplifter in the store.

Claim 9

A method of deterring shoplifting activity in a store and producing an alarm signal in response to detecting of shoplifting, said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing an external appearance on a pedestal-like housing to cause said external appearance to be similar to the appearance of other known housings used in other stores and known by shoplifters to contain detecting apparatus that physically detects detection tags on merchandise carried past said other known housings; (b) concealing a receiver for receiving and detecting wireless signals in said pedestal-like housing; (c) placing said dummy pedestal-like housing adjacent to an exit of said store, whereby the similarity of said pedestal-like housing to said known housings suggests to would-be shoplifters that said pedestal-like housing contains detecting apparatus that can detect unauthorized removal of merchandise through the exit; (d) visual detection by an employee of said store, of shoplifting of a merchandise item by a shoplifter; (e) manual actuation by said employee, of a hand-held wireless transmitter to cause said transmitter to transmit said wireless signal to said receiver; (f) producing said alarm signal, by means of said receiver, in response to said wireless signal; and (g) actuating an alarm device in response to said alarm signal to indicate the presence of the shoplifter in the store.