Tools, smartphones, alcohol, razor blades, jewellery and make-up are the products most coveted by thieves because of their high added value. Theft is a scourge for supermarkets and specialist retailers. It accounts for nearly 80% of "shrinkage", which represents all the goods that go missing, including stock management errors, supplier errors, breakage and waste.
In Europe, France is one of the countries most affected by shrinkage with 6.5 billion euros lost, including more than 468 million euros for specialised distribution. It is mainly due to external/shoplifting (43%), internal/employee fraud (24%), suppliers (17.5%), then internal errors/administrative losses (16%). (source: 22/10/20, Stackr).
To counter theft, it is therefore essential to invest in effective and reliable means such as anti-theft security labels. In this article, you will learn about the different types of anti-theft labels and their advantages.
Hologram security labels
Hologram labels are recommended for securing and certifying the authenticity of high-value products such as alcohol, electronic products, jewellery, luxury goods, etc. They are essential in the fight against burglary, fraud or counterfeiting.
These holographic stickers have many advantages:
They are designed with a multitude of specific layers (3D effect, guilloches, micro-text, serial number...) which represent important security points. These details are generated by a developed three-dimensional technology, which makes it unfalsifiable due to its complexity but also to the cost of the technology used for its design. Indeed, it is impossible to fraudulently reproduce this adhesive hologram by scanning or photographing it. The difficulty of reproduction proves the authenticity of the product.
Furthermore, these security labels are guaranteed by a high degree of security and allow for quick and easy authentication as well as unlimited possibilities in terms of design and security.
These security labels are also an asset in the case of theft or counterfeiting. They immediately report any attempt to remove them. The label will be destroyed and cannot be reattached. In addition, it will leave a VOID message on the label and the substrate.
There are 3 main technologies that make up hologram labels. The range we offer consists of "2D/3D" and "dot matrix" holograms, which allow authentication mostly with the naked eye and for certain security points with a reading tool.
- 2D/3D holograms manufactured from an optical image recording laser. The most common and economical technique.
- Dot-matrix holograms manufactured using computer controlled laser technology. Offers finer rendering, more intense light diffraction and more security points.
- E-Beam holograms for very high quality but very expensive labels, requiring very large quantities to be produced.
Each type of adhesive hologram offered has its own "security points" which give the level of security desired and the level of control to be chosen according to your authentication needs of the products to be secured. Here is a comparative table of our different hologram stickers:
| Name | Reference | Size | Number of holograms per sheet | Number of holograms for 20 sheets | Security points | Visuals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bottle Seal "Secure" | MSEC-HOLT-BOT | 44X8MM | 42 | 840 |
|  |
| Padlock "Original" | MSEC-HOL-PAD | Ø 20 mm | 49 | 980 |
| |
| Badge "Secure" | MSEC-HOL-SOP | 20x20mm | 49 | 980 |
| |
| Square "Original" | MSEC-HOL-SQU | 10x10mm | 196 | 3920 |
| |
| Padlock "Intransferible" | MSEC-HOL-PAD2 | 30x30mm | 25 | 500 |
| |
| Barecode-QR code "Authentic" | MSEC-HOL-BAR | 50x15mm | 18 | 360 |
| |
| Transparent "Guaranted" | MSEC-HOL-TRA | Ø 30 mm | 25 | 500 |
| |
| Authentic | MSEC-HOL-AUT | Ø 20 mm | 42 | 840 |
| |
| Validated | MSEC-HOL-VAL | Ø 20 mm | 42 | 840 |
| |
| Secure | MSEC-HOL-SEC | 24x24mm | 30 | 600 |
| |
| Waranty | MSEC-HOL-WAR | 30x10mm | 70 | 1400 |
| |
| Protected | MSEC-HOL-PRO | 30x15mm | 50 | 1000 |
| |
| Arrow "Original" | MSEC-HOL-ARR | Ø 19 mm | 49 | 980 |
| |
| Eagle "Valid" | MSEC-HOL-EAG | Ø 25 mm | 36 | 720 |
| |
| Global Map "Authentification" | MSEC-HOL-GLO | 25x25 | 36 | 720 |
| |
| Global Map "Original" | MSEC-HOL-MAP | 30x25 | 30 | 600 |
| |
| Stars and Planet "Security" | MSEC-HOL-STA | 20x20mm | 49 | 980 |
| |
| Eagle "Original" | MSEC-HOL-EAG2 | 25x15mm | 54 | 1080 |
| |
Anti-theft security labels
Anti-theft labels are widely used in the retail industry for their high level of detection. There are different types of labels: electro-magnetic labels, radio-frequency labels and magneto-acoustic labels. It is important to choose the right one for the products you want to secure but also for the anti-theft technology of your security gates in your shop.
Here is how the 3 different anti-theft tags work:
- Electro magnetic tags have a long magnetised metal wire in the centre. If not deactivated, it will be detected by passing through the low frequency magnetic field generated by the anti-theft gates.
- The magneto-acoustic tags consist of two ferromagnetic strips based on a frequency of 58Khz. When it enters the detection field of the anti-theft gates, which are based on the same frequency, the slats vibrate and make the anti-theft gates ring.
- The radio frequency consists of the implementation of a circuit placed in the field of the anti-theft gate. If the anti-theft tag is active, it emits a signal that is out of phase with the transmitter. The receiving portal detects this signal and triggers the alarm.
These tags are attached to the product with a strong adhesive and are very difficult to remove. They must be scanned to be deactivated. If not, they will remotely trigger a magnetic gate alarm.
These labels have an excellent hold and can be adapted to any environment. Thanks to their small size, they are discreet and do not interfere with the fitting of products if required.
| Tag | Frequency | Size | Type of products | Visual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electro-magnétique | 58 Khz Checkpoint/Meto detection antennas | 63,5x9,7mm | Pharmacy, bookshop, stationery, press, ready-to-wear, library, shoes, garden centre, hardware, games and toys | |
| Radio-fréquence | 8,2 Mhz Checkpoint/Meto detection antennas | 31x32mm, 40x40mm, 50x50mm | Food, ready-to-wear, cultural, cosmetics, perfumery. It is disturbed by metal and does not pass through liquids. | |
| Magnéto-acoustique | Checkpoint/Meto detection antennas | 11x44x2mm | Pharmacy, bookshop, stationery, press, ready-to-wear, library, shoes, garden centre, hardware, games and toys, High-tech. | |
RFID tags, a new technology used to combat theft but also to identify each product by storing the data in a chip, are coming onto the market. This device is the most expensive and time-consuming to set up but is becoming the most efficient and reliable way to secure a large number of products.