bitmap@ucbtopaz.CC.Berkeley.ARPA (01/12/84)
While in Cody's Book Store today, a man set off the
anti-shoplifting alarm when he (accidently?) walked out with
2 books under his arm. The salesclerk told me that they used
magnetic strips in some of the books. Interestingly, the books
that set it off were paperbacks (one was a large paperback).
Are these strips put in when the book is made? Are dectectors
really sensitive enough to detect magnetic strips? If so, will
a magnet, carried in your pocket, set it off?
Bill, UCB
decvax!ucbtopaz!bitmapesj@ihuxl.UUCP (01/17/84)
I don't know about magnets, but evidently electronic games will set the alarms off. A couple of weeks ago I purchased "Lost Treasure" at Sear's in a local mall. I walked into Field's with no trouble, but when I left the sirens went off. The salesperson who came scurrying after us asked if we had purchased anything at Field's and then if we had an electronic game. When I told her about the game she said, "Oh yeah, they always do that." I imagine the guts of the thing are just a chip, a couple of resistors, and a few led's. ihnp4!ihuxl!esj
stekas@hou2g.UUCP (01/17/84)
Figuring out how the shoplifting device works sounds like agreat
opportunity for some experimental physics. I suggest we all remember
to carry assorted junk into these stores and report positive and negative
results to the net. I think magnets, shorted solonoids, and the like
are good candidates.
Jim