Anti-theft bracket with a compression gap

An anti-theft device for securing an article of merchandise, comprising:

• a first bracket member having a first lip configured to at least partially receive a first lateral side of the article of merchandise such that the first bracket member contacts both a back surface and a front surface of the article of merchandise, wherein a normal distance from an inner surface of the first lip to an opposite edge of the first bracket member defines a first length;
• a second bracket member having a second lip configured to receive a second lateral side of the article of merchandise therein such that the second bracket member contacts both the back surface and the front surface of the article of merchandise, the second lateral side of the article of merchandise being opposite to the first lateral side of the article of merchandise, wherein a normal distance between an inner surface of the second lip to an opposite edge of the second bracket defines a second length;
• wherein a distance between the first and the second lateral sides of the article of merchandise exceeds a sum of the first length and the second length such that a gap having a width is present between the first bracket member and the second bracket member when the first lip is in receipt of the first lateral side and the second lip is in receipt of the second lateral side, and
• a threaded fastener having a longitudinal axis wherein the threaded fastener extends between the first bracket member and the second bracket member thereby bridging the gap therebetween and coupling the first and the second bracket members to one another, wherein rotation of the threaded fastener about the longitudinal axis thereof in a first direction is configured to reduce the width of the gap between the first and the second bracket members, thereby causing the first lip and the second lip to exert compressive forces onto the first and the second lateral sides of the article of merchandise, wherein the first and the second bracket members collectively form a bracket assembly, and wherein to release the article of merchandise from the bracket assembly, the threaded fastener must be rotated about the longitudinal axis thereof in a second direction to restore the width of the gap.