(57) The anti-theft product rack (10) continuously monitors the weight of the rack including
individual product units (12). When a weight deviation is detected (16), it is characterized
as either a disturbance or as the removal of one or more product units. An alarm (41)
is sounded if the rack is continuously disturbed for a programmable number of continuous
weight sensing cycles, or if a programmable number of disturbances occur during a
programmable period of time. In addition, an alarm is sounded if the number of product
units detected as being removed at one time exceeds a programmable limit. Finally,
if the number of detected product units removed exceeds a programmable number during
a programmable period of time, an alarm is sounded. The product display rack presents
no physical barriers to product removal and requires no intervention of sales personnel
for product removal. Thus, the present invention presents an aesthetically pleasing
product rack while providing a high degree of protection against shoplifting or employee
theft.
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