Anti-theft device with remote alarm feature

A theft detection system, comprising:

• at least one retail merchandise tag configured to attach to an item of retail merchandise, the at least one retail merchandise tag configured to i) detect a change in motion of the at least retail merchandise tag sensed by a motion sensor of the at least one retail merchandise tag, and ii) a change in light sensed via a light sensor of the at least one retail merchandise tag which together i) and ii) are indicative of a potential retail theft condition,
• the at least one retail merchandise tag having a controller, the controller configured to determine whether the at least one retail merchandise tag is in motion,
• wherein if the at least one retail merchandise tag is in motion for a period of time longer than a threshold time period, the controller simultaneously iii) operates the at least one retail merchandise tag to transmit a wireless radio signal, and iv) operates an emitter, located in the at least one retail merchandise tag, to transmit an audible tone or a visual signal:
• wherein the wireless radio signal is:
• v) indicative of the potential theft condition;
• vi) transmitted by an antenna, of the at least one retail merchandise tag, located separately from the emitter, vii) transmitted independently from the audible tone or the visual signal and viii) of a different type from the audible tone or the visual signal:
• an alarm box located remotely from the at least one retail merchandise tag, the alarm box configured to receive the wireless radio signal and the audible tone;
• and
• wherein the at least one retail merchandise tag and the alarm box are each operable to generate an alarm upon detection of the potential retail theft condition simultaneously.

A method of detecting a potential retail theft and generating an alarm, the method comprising:

• attaching a retail merchandise tag to an item of retail merchandise;
• detecting motion of the retail merchandise tag using a motion sensor of the retail merchandise tag;
• detecting a light condition using a light sensor of the retail merchandise tag;
• determining whether the motion of the retail merchandise tag is indicative of the potential retail theft using a microprocessor of the retail merchandise tag, the microprocessor coupled to the motion sensor,
• wherein the determining whether the motion is indicative of the potential theft comprises determining whether the retail merchandise tag is in motion, wherein if the retail merchandise tag is in motion for a period of time longer than a threshold period of time, the microprocessor operates the retail merchandise tag i) to simultaneously transmit a wireless radio signal, and ii) to transmit, via an emitter located in the retail merchandise tag, an audible tone or a visual signal;
• and
• wherein the wireless radio signal is:
• iii) indicative of the potential retail theft;
• iv) transmitted by an antenna, of the retail merchandise tag, located separately from the emitter, v) transmitted independently from the audible tone or the visual signal and vi) of a different type from the audible tone or the visual signal:
• upon determination that the motion of the retail merchandise tag is indicative of the potential retail theft, generating an alarm both at an alarm box remote from the retail merchandise tag, and via the emitter.