Acousto-Magnetic Anti-Theft Technology Tests Higher Than RF

Jul 22, 2008 4:00 PM

Research has shown Sensormatic acousto-magnetic (AM) technology from ADT offers retailers better anti-theft alarm detection rates compared to radio frequency (RF) technology.

The U.S based Loss Prevention Research Council (LPRC) conducted a retailer-sanctioned study of theft deterrence across 320 stores. In tests conducted to measure electronic article surveillance (EAS) technology effectiveness, this real-world research found, on average, AM technology detection rates were more than 1.5 times those of RF technology.

The study's chief investigator Dr. Read Hayes notes, "To be a credible deterrent to shoplifting, EAS systems must alarm. In addition, offenders must know the systems exist."

The Sensormatic AM technology is further supported by lab studies conducted for ADT by the Institut fur Distributions und Handelslogistik des VVL e.V., associated with the University of Dortmund in Dortmund, Germany. In a controlled environment, researchers took Sensormatic AM anti-theft labels through 15 reference points and 12 different positions, each three times. The AM technology showed average detection rates of 98.5 percent in both horizontal and vertical orientations.

In a third study, the University of Arkansas used Sensormatic AM technology in its investigation of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) as a possible anti-theft technology. AM technologies performed very well across a series of seven shoplifting scenarios, achieving a 100 percent detection rate in five of those scenarios.

The recent release of preliminary results from The National Retail Security Survey (NRSS) of shoplifting and retail loss showed the lowest rate of loss in the survey's 17-year history. According to University of Florida criminologist Richard Hollinger, Ph.D., who directed the survey, this continues a six-year downward trend, thanks in part to the long-term investment by retailers in anti-shoplifting and anti-theft technologies and training.

“The study shows there is good evidence that anti-theft technologies, properly implemented, are having a positive effect on reducing crime in the retail environment," Hollinger says.

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