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CF Cricket and shop theft devices

Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2008 3:10 pm
by feeny
I discovered that the CF cricket seems to have a good chance of setting off certain anti-theft devices - the sort used in shop entrances that beep loudly when someone takes something they haven't paid for through the field between the devices.

Never heard a squeak from them before - but the other day they were all going off... on the way in ... and sure enough it was the CF Cricket - tested to be certain.

Anyone else experienced anything like this? Im yet to test his with other spydies - and I've not noticed it before. I wonder whether its newer-generation devices?

Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2008 6:26 pm
by markg
Maybe it is a stolen Cricket!?!?! ;)

I know, I am kidding...

I would be interested to hear if this happens to others...

Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2008 12:43 am
by The Deacon
That's really strange. Was it one of the "big box" type stores with locations all around the country? If so, maybe I can run a test with mine.

Can say for certain that CF handles in general don't set off the ones at Walmart, Target, K-Mart, Sears, Home Depot, Lowes, Best Buy, Circuit City, Staples, Dicks, or LL Bean around here. Have visited all of them with either a Stretch II, CF Caly III, or CF Kiwi in my pocket, most of them with each of those three at one time or another.

Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2008 8:12 am
by Lord vader
I might be just a fluke,i have one and i go to walmart quite often and there detector doesn`t go off . That is strange that happened to you.

Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2008 6:10 pm
by CombatGrappler
Were you wearing any new clothing items? I am in management at a big box home improvement store and at least once or twice a week, our system is set off by somebody's new clothes. Sometimes the tag is embedded in the product and doesn't get deactivated. I have deactivated several purses that came into the store and set off the alarm. I've also deactivated a few pairs of shoes, LOL.

The tags are activated and deactivated with magnets. I don't see how carbon fiber could affect any part of the system.

Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2008 8:01 pm
by feeny
I'll run more tests!

No new clothing items were worn - it was a big department store - and it was definitely in more than one shop too. I wondered whether they might have tuned their sensors differently for sales - or perhaps changed detector devices...

I might see if Datan / th232 fancy walking into a DJs with a CF cricket or similar :D That'd be a good test!

Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2008 8:04 pm
by Slick
I work in the packaging department where I work. We apply sensormatic tags and/or checkpoint RFID stickers to our products to customer requirements. I do not see how a knife or any other in-pocket gizmo could light up an exit scanner system. There must be another explanation.

Then again I could be wrong. It would not be the first time I was wrong.

Please keep us up to date on this.

Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2008 8:42 pm
by Slick
If this bears out I'd bet the companies that own these technoligies would like a to have a look at your knife.
------------------------------
There are stories about the early AM radio stations being picked up in everything from filled bathtubs to dental fillings. Those early radio stations could pump out huge amounts of power. People near the WLW transmitter would have to put their flouresent bulbs in a closet at night. There was so much power being radiated the bulbs would glow in the dark. I've done the old microwave oven test with a small tube along the door seal and seen the bulb flicker from leaked radiation. That microwave was quickly replaced.

If your particular knife has the correct gap between metal parts it could light up the transmitter/receiver at the store exit. It must be one in a million.

Have fun figuing this one out.

Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2008 9:58 pm
by slyy
I actually got my first cricket a few days ago and have carried it since. To my suprise the alarm beeped the first time I took it in to the local walmart! I did some experimenting on my way out by holding my knife over the device as I walked by. I was very excited when I got through safely. However, I didn't notice that my sister was behind me and had not yet gone through and it was set off again as she walked through. So it turns out it wasn't my cricket but I thought it was a funny coincidence after reading your thread. Anyway, good luck figuring this out!

Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2009 7:53 am
by feeny
Alright this is now happening to me alot...
I swear that its the cricket! Its not *every* time - but more than 60% - the cricket sets off the security devices.

Its not that easy to test either... the security guys come running as you beep on the way in... 'scuse me', says I, Ill just leave my spydies here and try again... gah!

3/4 attempts at Boarders the other day beeped me :(

Any ideas / advice - it must be said this "indiscretion" (pun intended) is an unwanted feature! This never used to happen - only since the recent (lack of) shopping season - and Im wondering equipment was retuned and/or upgraded by supplier(s) here...

Request/Favor: Don your SE CF crickets (white box ones) and go shopping!! See if you too beep!!

Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2009 9:05 am
by Lord vader
feeny wrote:Alright this is now happening to me alot...
I swear that its the cricket! Its not *every* time - but more than 60% - the cricket sets off the security devices.

Its not that easy to test either... the security guys come running as you beep on the way in... 'scuse me', says I, Ill just leave my spydies here and try again... gah!

3/4 attempts at Boarders the other day beeped me :(

Any ideas / advice - it must be said this "indiscretion" (pun intended) is an unwanted feature! This never used to happen - only since the recent (lack of) shopping season - and Im wondering equipment was retuned and/or upgraded by supplier(s) here...

Request/Favor: Don your SE CF crickets (white box ones) and go shopping!! See if you too beep!!
I definitely would not take that knife to any airport. :eek:

Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2009 1:07 pm
by peacefuljeffrey
This is nature's way of telling you to stop carrying recurved blades! :p
LOL!!!!!!!

Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2009 2:50 pm
by feeny
...and like all good things in nature - ADAPT!

Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2009 3:34 pm
by kbuzbee
feeny wrote:I discovered that the CF cricket seems to have a good chance of setting off certain anti-theft devices - the sort used in shop entrances that beep loudly when someone takes something they haven't paid for through the field between the devices.

Anyone else experienced anything like this? Im yet to test his with other spydies - and I've not noticed it before. I wonder whether its newer-generation devices?
Surprised no one else has offered...

I think you should send your cricket to me for testing and potential disposal.... it sounds defective. :D

Ken

Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2009 4:11 pm
by The Deacon
May be visiting one of the big malls around here this weekend, will pack my Japanese market CF Cricket. There's a Borders there, so assuming that's where you set the bells off it should be a good test. It's PE, but that shouldn't matter. Can say it didn't set anything off at the "big box" stores I tried around New Years (Walmart, Target, Home Depot, K-Mart, Rite-Aid).

Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 6:35 am
by feeny
Its quite upsetting you know... my favorite EDC beeps when I go into shops :(

Next time I go in I will actually get the make of the security devices too...

Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 6:38 am
by Lord vader
feeny wrote:Its quite upsetting you know... my favorite EDC beeps when I go into shops :(

Next time I go in I will actually get the make of the security devices too...
I`ll bet your blade is magnitized that might have something to do with it.