Looking for answers for commonly asked questions, search the FAQs directly below.

• How do I choose the right system? Where do I start?

  Loss prevention is about choosing the right EAS system for your store and your product assortment.  Look at the  layout of your store.  You will want pedestal  antennaes at each point of entry or exit. 
  In this instance, size matters! You will want to understand the  distances between the locations where you are wanting to put the Antennaes, whether that's a floor-standing pedestal (stantion) or a wall-mounted or counter-mounted antennae.  
  The larger the space, the more antennaes will be required to  ensure full and adequate coverage.  
  Next, you will need to look at the type of product in your assortment.  If your product has metallic components, Checkpoint offers many options to protect that merchandise. Ask us how!
   If you will primarily be using smaller tags due to the delicate nature of your product lineup, the range might be somewhat reduced, prompting the need for more antennae.  
  The best thing to do is to reach out to one of our Checkpoint Systems product experts .  We are glad to walk you through all of the options to ensure you select the very best Loss Prevention system for your needs with the right components and the correct number of components.

• What are the different types of Antennaes that are available?

  Checkpoint offers the following system platforms -  NEO systems, EVOLVE systems as well as RFID systems and De-Activation units.  
  Depending upon the system you choose, antennae can come in the form of floor-standing pedestals (stantions), wall-mounted and counter-mounted units, as well as over head monted units.  
  
  Some units are customizable in terms of your logo or branding, as well as the  flexibility to choose alarm sounds or upload your own file for custom messaging. 
  Some are designed for wider aisle capacity and feature  wireless communication.  
    Ultimately, the type and number of units will be driven by your layout, fixtures and desired coverage. 

• What's the difference between EAS systems?

  Acousto-Magnetic systems use a combination of Acoustic (Sound) energy and Magnetic energy to detect the tags that have been applied to product. When the tag enters the field, it causes the tag to emit a specific acoustic frequency that is picked up by the system and then triggers an alarm. "Acousto-Magnetic systems are generally wider and deeper (broader coverage) than Radio Frequency systems."REMOVE RF systems use a very thin circuit which reacts to the high-frequency electromagnetic waves produced by the antennas. When the EAS pedestals sense the tag reaction in the RF field, the alarm is triggered. RF EAS systems work with both tags and labels applied to the product.

• What's EAS?

  EAS (Electronic Article Surveillance) is the creation of a secure eco-system made up of antennaes that can be placed at entrances and exits or in secondary locations along with the use of tags and/or labels that will set off the alarm if unauthorized merchandise leaves the store. EAS systems come in three primary forms - AM (Acousto-Magnetic), RF (Radio Frequency) and RFID (Radio Frequency Identification)

• What to do if my system False Alarms

  The first thing to do if the system false alarms is to check the area nearest the pedestals / antennaes to see if there are any tags or tagged products within a 6ft / 2m radius of the antennaes. Next, ensure all displays are at least 3m from the pedestals / towers. Locate your on site power supplies (that are tagged as Checkpoint Systems). Turn the power supply off and on again and see if this solves the issue. If all of the above does not solve the issue, contact your Loss Prevention Manager who will coordinate a service call by one of our trained technicians. Alternatively, please reach out to our Customer Service team at 1-800-661-1515

• What is the Frequency of my AM system?

  The frequency of most AM systems is 58 KHz

• What is the Frequency of my RF system?

  The frequency of most RF systems is 8.2 MHz

• What if my system isn't alarming at all?

  If your system does not appear to be alarming at all, the first step in trouble-shooting is to take an Checkpoint supplied test tag and put it next to your system, where you know it would normally alarm. On the pedestal, look for lights and sound. Check for a solid light at the bottom of the pedestal (this is known as a badge board light). If the light is a solid red light, then the lights and sound of the system should be working. If the light is a flashing light, this indicates that the system is disabled (and lights and sound will be muted). If there is no light, this typically indicates that there is no power getting to the unit. For a Solid Light and no Alarm - contact Checkpoint for a Service call. For a Flashing Light, take your system Key, place it into the keyhole, turn to the right. This should prompt the system to reset (turning the light to solid) in about 3 seconds. Remember to return the key position to centre and remove the key. In the case of No Light = No Power, check your power supply. Is it unplugged? You should see a green LED light on the power supply. If the light is on the power supply, yet no power is getting to the pedestal / antennae, contact Checkpoint for a Service call. Technical assistance will be required to remedy any components that may be damaged and causing the system to fail.

• I have a question, who is my first point of contact at Checkpoint Systems Canada?

  Your very first call should be to our Customer Support Centre.
  Our bilingual Toronto-based team would be pleased to assist. Call 1-800-661-1515
  We are open Monday-Friday 7:30am-4:30pm EST

• What's the difference between 1 Alarm, 2 Alarm & 3 Alarm Protection Levels?

  This is known as the Alarm Protection Level.
  1 Alarm: Our 1 Alarm solutions are designed to activate the EAS gates if a breach occurs.
  2 Alarm: In addition to EAS gate detection, our 2 Alarm products have the added measure of security of an alarming anti-tamper feature. The alarm is triggered when the merchandise is tampered with anywhere in the store.
  3 Alarm:Our 3 Alarm® products boast the benefits of both 1 and 2 Alarm with an additional feature that detects the EAS Gates and self-alarms when in the proximity of the gates at a decibel level loud enough to be noticed by front store staff.

PRODUCT SUPPORT & KNOWLEDGE

• Choosing Spider Wrap or Keeper - which is best for my assortment?

  Whether you choose a Spider Wrap or a Keeper for your inventory, you can be assured that it is equally secure. The first thing to consider is whether the consumer will want to interact directly (touch and feel) the product. If so, you will likely choose a Spider Wrap over a Keeper. For items where you do not wish the contents to be "open" (ie. Perfumes, Lotions, Flammable Liquids), a Keeper is a great choice.

• Are there instructional Videos?

  Please click here to visit our Instruction Video Gallery

• How do I find the best size of Spider Wrap for my product?

  Spider Wraps each indicate the length of the cables. Therefore, what you need to do is take the width of your item + the depth of your item, add those two things together, and multiply by 2. The result will be the "wrap length" that is the minimum that you need (ie. a box of 12" wide x 4" deep has a wrap length of 32")

• How do I find the best size of Keeper for my product?

  Due to the fact that Keepers have a finite external and internal size, those dimensions are indicated on each item and also filterable on the left-hand portion of each of the Keepers category pages. The Internal dimensions are designed to best suit your product. You also need to be aware of the external dimensions, as this needs to work with your shelving or peg spacing

• What's a Counter Decal and why might I need one?

  A counter decal is a durable label with the Checkpoint Systems Logo on it. It is designed to be placed on the Counter directly above the de-activation unit, so that employees know where to place the tags in order to de-activate.

TIPS & TRICKS FOR THE BEST SYSTEM OUTCOMES

• Profile of a Shoplifter (AKA a Booster)

  At least 5% of customers shoplift. The likelihood is greatest for adolescents between the ages of 15 and 24, as this group accounts for approximately 55% of all offenders.

• Things to watch for with Shoplifting

  The most likely method of shoplifting is by Concealment of product. This means that you should watch for folks carrying empty bags or with bulky overcoats.
  
  Another form of concealment is box stuffing - this means to put an item to be stolen into another less-expensive item to be paid for at the cash. Always be aware of packages that appear to have been tampered with.
  
  Thieves can be very practiced at shoplifting and often work with a partner to create a distraction. This can be as simple as a conversation with staff on the floor to keep them distracted, creating a false emergency to divert the attention of one or more staff members or requesting assistance that requires the staff member to either leave the store floor or leave a particular aisle in order to provide assistance.

• What type of bags would a shoplifter most-likely use?

  Shoplifters create their own "Booster Bag" from shopping bags, backpacks or other containers. The inside of a booster bag is lined with a material that is conductive (such as several layers of aluminum foil) so that when an item that has a security tag on it is placed inside the bag, it may not be detected by the system.

• Is there a way to deter the Thieves?

  The combination of an EAS system along with the use of visible Security Cameras has been shown to reduce the inclination of a shoplifter.
  
  Employee training and awareness is also important. Train your staff to pay attention to behaviours to help them spot suspicious activities and know when someone is attempting to divert their attention from a theft.
  
  The use of strategically placed mirrors to reduce blind spots within the store will also help your staff keep a watchful eye.
  
  Setting up your store layout so that you can see all the way from the back of the store to the front is not only aesthetically pleasing for your customers, it's helpful for your staff to see what's happening as well.