How retail loss prevention actually works
Retail loss prevention works in three layers: a layout that removes opportunity, tags that make theft detectable, and display security that keeps high-value stock reachable but hard to take.
Shoplifting charges in New Zealand reached 36,179 in 2024/25, the highest in 15 years (B2B News). Hardware alone won't fix that. Hardware matched to your products, your floor plan and your staff routine will.
Less Hardware, Better Results
What retailers usually need
Most stores need less hardware than they expect. The stores that get the best results fix their sightlines first, tag the right products second, and make sure someone responds when an alarm sounds.
Four things come up in almost every store: stock stays accessible, because locking everything away costs more in lost sales than it saves. Staff can work at pace, so tags and detachers need to be quick at the counter. It matches what's already installed, which is where most ordering mistakes happen. And it scales, so what works in one store works in three.
It's Free
Start with your layout
The cheapest loss prevention is your floor plan. You can't change who walks in, but you can change how much they can get away with unseen.
Keep fixtures low enough to see over, position the counter with a view across the floor, and avoid dead-end aisles. Convex mirrors then cover the blind spots that remain, with no power, network or subscription needed.
Try this: stand at the counter during a quiet period and note every spot you can't see. Fitting room approaches, rear corners and new promotional displays are the usual ones. That list is your priority order.
At the Door
EAS gates and tags
EAS gates at the exit sound an alarm when an item with an active tag passes through. They're the visible deterrent most shoppers recognise.
There are two systems, and they don't mix. RF runs at 8.2 MHz and AM runs at 58 kHz. Every tag, label, detacher and gate in your store must use the same one. Ordering the wrong type is the most common mistake we see.
Not sure which you have? Send us a photo of one tag and one gate, and we'll confirm before you order.
On the Product
Matching the tag to the product
Choose the tag by what you're protecting. Hard tags pin through clothing and are reused. Lanyard tags loop through bags, shoes and anything you can't pierce. Security labels stick to packaging and are deactivated at the till.
For boxed goods, spider wraps and safers protect the whole package while customers can still pick it up.
Start with your two or three highest-theft categories, not the whole range. Tagging everything from day one is expensive and slows your staff down.
Planning your security
Identify your EAS system
Identify your EAS system
Check which system you have before ordering anything.
- Check the gate. The model number or label on the pedestal usually states the frequency.
- Look at your tags. RF labels are usually flat printed squares. AM hard tags are usually thicker and more rectangular.
- Send us a photo of one tag and one gate, and we'll confirm.
We stock both AM and RF tags and labels, and supply RF gates. See our product security range.
Gate placement
Gate placement
Gates should cover the full width of the main exit.
Wide entrances and corner sites may need more than one pair. If you're fitting out a new store, plan power and conduit at the gate positions before the floor goes down. Adding them later is expensive. See our EAS gates.
Detachers and deactivation
Detachers and deactivation
A tagging system that slows the counter will be abandoned by staff within weeks.
- Have one detacher per till, plus a spare.
- Use a deactivation pad at each till if you use labels.
- Keep magnetic detachers away from steel and don't drop them. A weak detacher looks like a bad batch of tags.
Our detacher exchange programme helps keep detachers working.
Ink tags
Ink tags
Ink tags release a permanent dye if someone forces them off, which ruins the item and removes the reason to steal it.
They work even without EAS gates, and suit high-value clothing. Train staff to remove them with the correct detacher, never by force.
High-value display stock
High-value display stock
For phones, tools, handbags and other stock customers need to handle, use tethers, anti-sweep locks and secure display hardware.
The goal is stock a genuine customer can pick up, but a thief can't remove quickly or quietly. Our article on moving from anti-sweep locks to hangsell tags covers protecting hook stock.
Customer-facing technology
Customer-facing technology
Screens in a store earn their place when they save a staff task or answer a question that would otherwise lose a sale.
Price check tablets, click and collect points and promotional screens all need a locked enclosure, hidden cabling and permanent power.
Find the right protection for your store
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Security tags
Explore Security TagsHard tags, lanyard tags and labels for clothing, accessories and packaged goods. AM and RF available.
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Security mirrors
Explore MirrorsConvex mirrors that cover blind spots in corners, aisles and fitting room approaches. No power needed.
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EAS gates
Explore EAS GatesRF security gates for your store entrance, with tags and labels to match.
Which tag for which product
Match the tag to what you're protecting. Here's where to start for the most common product types.
| Product | Recommended | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Clothing | Hard tag, or ink tag for high value | Delicate fabrics; use a lanyard tag instead |
| Shoes, bags, eyewear | Lanyard tag | Lanyard loose enough to slip the product out |
| Cosmetics and packaged goods | Security label | Labels placed over barcodes or ingredients |
| Spirits and wine | Bottle tag | Tag must match your gate frequency |
| Boxed electronics | Spider wrap or safer | Measure the box, not the product |
| Phones and tablets on display | Tether or secure display stand | Demo devices left without charging |
| Power tools | Heavy duty tether or safer | Tether too light for the weight |
| Stock on hooks | Anti-sweep lock or hangsell tag | Wrong lock type slows restocking |
Common questions
I've just opened a store. Where do I start?
I've just opened a store. Where do I start?
A simple starting point for a single-entrance store:
- One pair of EAS gates sized to your door
- Tags or labels for your two or three highest-theft categories
- One detacher per till, plus a spare
- Convex mirrors for your blind spots
- A clear plan for who responds to an alarm
Start there and expand. If you're still fitting out, talk to us before the floor and counter are finished.
Will RF tags work with AM gates?
Will RF tags work with AM gates?
No. RF runs at 8.2 MHz and AM at 58 kHz, and they aren't interchangeable. Every tag, label, detacher and gate must use the same system.
Why won't my detacher remove my tags?
Why won't my detacher remove my tags?
Check that the detacher matches the tag type, the tag is seated correctly and nothing is jammed. Then test on a tag you know works. Magnetic detachers weaken if dropped or stored near steel. Our detacher exchange programme covers weakened units.
Does security ink wash out?
Does security ink wash out?
No. The dye bonds permanently to fabric and won't come out in the wash or with dry cleaning. That's what makes ink tags a deterrent.
Can I test tags before ordering in bulk?
Can I test tags before ordering in bulk?
Yes. Testing fit, detacher compatibility and gate detection first is always worth it. Tell us your gate system and product types.
Do you offer trade pricing for multi-store retailers?
Do you offer trade pricing for multi-store retailers?
Yes. Retail groups, loss prevention consultants and security installers can become a wholesale partner for volume pricing and dedicated support. Call 09-979-5479 for help.