Methods and systems for detecting shoplifting at a retail facility

A method for detecting and monitoring shoplifting of products by individuals at a retail facility, the method comprising:

• providing a first product sensor attached to a product stocked in a product stocking area of the retail facility;
• providing a second product sensor attached to the product, the first and second product sensors being located at a fixed threshold distance relative to each other;
• providing an alert sensor not attached to the product and configured to receive a signal from at least one of the first and second product sensors;
• providing a video camera positioned to monitor a portion of the product stocking area of the retail facility associated with the alert sensor;
• providing a processor-based computing device in communication with the first and second product sensors, the alert sensor, and the video camera;
• transmitting, via at least one of the first and second product sensors, a signal indicating a current distance between the first and second product sensors;
• generating, via the at least one of the first and second product sensors, an alert signal indicating that the fixed threshold distance between the first and second product sensors has been altered;
• receiving the alert signal via the alert sensor;
• determining, via the computing device, the alert sensor that received the alert signal;
• activating, via the computing device, the video camera;
• and
• acquiring, via the activated video camera, at least one moving or still image of the portion of the product stocking area of the retail facility associated with the alert sensor that received the alert signal.