Electronic article surveillance

Have you ever gone to a store and noticed those big plastic squares on items like clothes, shoes or bags? They have something inside them that makes the alarm go off if someone tries to take the item out of the store without paying for it. That thing inside is called an electronic article surveillance (EAS) tag.

EAS is a system that stores and sellers use to keep track of their merchandise and prevent theft. The tag has a metal strip that sets off an alarm if it passes through a gate at the exit of the store. The strip involves tiny wires that vibrate when they pick up a signal from the gate, causing the tag to beep.

EAS is like a secret code that only the store understands. The clerk at the store deactivates the tag when you buy an item, so you can take it out of the store without setting the alarm off. When you leave the store, the tag activates again, and if it isn't turned off, it will signal that something has been stolen.

So, EAS is like having a guard at the door of a store that can tell if you are taking something without paying for it. It helps stores to protect their products and reduce losses from shoplifting. That's why they put those plastic boxes on the merchandise.