The last time I saw someone shoplifting, two accomplices distracted the
cashiers nearest the door, while a third pushed a full shopping cart
straight out the door.  They got away, but left the loot.  What
impressed me was that this was a very well orchestrated and obviously
practiced operation - I'm sure it had worked for them many times before
(and probably since). 

Gary

> -----Original Message-----
> From: piclist-bounces@mit.edu 
> [mailto:piclist-bounces@mit.edu] On Behalf Of Herbert Graf
> Sent: Saturday, December 09, 2006 1:33 PM
> To: Microcontroller discussion list - Public.
> Subject: Re: [OT] I wonder what company would let such a 
> productoutthedoor. Naw, it couldn't be ...
> 
> On Sat, 2006-12-09 at 14:23 -0500, Denny Esterline wrote:
> 
> > > Depends. Would I pay 1 cent per item to shove my cart 
> through a scanner
> > > instead of unloading it, having a cashier scan it and put 
> it back in my
> > > car? MOST DEFINITELY, without question, without hesitation.
> > > 
> > 
> > 
> > I've heard the rhetoric on this idea, but I can't imagine 
> it actualy ever being implemented. Think about how hard it 
> would be to steal something - damage the RFID tag, throw it 
> in the cart, walk out. WAY to easy.
> 
> Stealing right now IS easy. Sure, eliminating an RFID tag would be
> "easy", but how is it easier then putting on a shirt under your jacket
> and walking out now? I don't really see the difference.
> 
> Sure, if you have a whole shopping cart full of stuff, and 
> you eliminate
> the RFID tag on ONE item you'd likely completely get away with that.
> However, again, I don't see how waving an RFID eliminating device over
> an item is any "easier" then just shoving that chocolate bar in your
> pocket.
> 
> They could put checks in to curtail it. For example, the current self
> checkout kiosks have a weigh scale, I see no reason you couldn't weigh
> the cart.
> 
> Eliminating shoplifting completely is a pointless exercise, putting
> guards in to minimize it is the best we can do. There will always be
> people who can get around WHATEVER guards are in place. To completely
> dismiss something new because it appears slightly easier to take
> advantage of is IMHO not a good way to approach things.
> 
> TTYL
> 
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