Have you considered adding benefit denial tag?
Retail loss prevention is an ever-evolving playing field where best practice sees retailers revisiting their security strategies regularly and changing them up when required in a bid to combat theft.
When it comes to security tags and electronic article surveillance, there are a host of methods retailers can employ to upgrade their tag security. These include using high-strength tags and utilising tag shapes that are hard for thieves to tamper with.
But one of the often-overlooked options retailers can quickly and affordably employ is the adoption of benefit denial.
What is benefit denial?
Benefit denial is a strategy that deters thieves from taking an item. It is based on the premise that if they do attempt to steal, the security method attached to a product will destroy it and render it useless.
The idea first became popular to combat major crimes like bank robberies, which use ink dye packs that explode and permanently mark the money.
In retail, the most common benefit denial method works in a similar way, using ink dye tags and pins that release permanent ink into a product when tampered with.
This strategy acts as a deterrent to theft because shoplifters understand that should they try to get around it illegally, the item they’re seeking to steal will be significantly damaged or even destroyed.
In other words, the strategy denies a shoplifter any benefit for their efforts.
Used in conjunction with electronic article surveillance, benefit denial offers an additional security measure.
Not only will staff be alerted to a potential theft using the alarm system of EAS, but should thieves try to remove a tag prior to theft, the product will be destroyed.
Ink dye tags
Now celebrating their 35th anniversary, ink dye tags have proved a hugely popular option for retailers looking to combat theft.
They offer a second level of tag security and are also easy to retrofit or combine with EAS.
Common methods of employing ink dye tags see the ink ampoules either built into acousto magnetic (AM) or radio frequency (RF) tags, or alternatively, retailers can purchase pin heads that have the ink dye component within them.
These ink dye pin heads are highly affordable and are designed to lock into commonly available AM and RF tags.
But ink dye tags aren’t the only effective benefit denial strategy available.
Large pin heads and tag components
Another benefit denial strategy that deters thieves from tampering with tags is the use of oversize pin heads.
This method works on the premise that thieves either have to cut the product or rip it in order to pull the pin head through the item they intend to steal.
Again, it means that the product will be significantly damaged and lose its value once the tag is illegally tampered with, thereby deterring thieves from targeting the item in the first place.
The benefits of benefit denial
Benefit denial is an excellent option when it comes to deterring thieves from targeting products. Although it can be used as an alternative to EAS, best practice sees it employed in conjunction with alarmed tags.
When used together, EAS and benefit denial ensure fewer tags are tampered with, staff will be alerted to any incidents of theft, and should a thief try to circumvent EAS by attempting removal of the tag, they will not enjoy any benefits.
You can learn more about the history of the ink dye security tag here, or alternatively order ink dye tags and pins from our extensive range of EAS products.
