Theft deterrent system

A theft deterrent system for deterring theft of an apertured article and for attachment to a forward-facing side of a display panel, the theft deterrent system comprising:

• an upper elongate member having an attachment end and an operating end, the attachment end attached to the forward-facing side of the display panel;
• a lower elongate member for supporting the apertured article and having an attachment end and an operating end, the attachment end attached to the forward-facing side of the display panel;
• a magnetic key;
• and
• a locking apparatus for selectively securing the article to the lower elongate member, the locking apparatus comprising:
• a housing defining an internal chamber, the housing including:
• a first aperture passing from an outer surface of the housing into the internal chamber and adapted to receive the upper elongate member;
• and
• a second aperture adapted to receive the magnetic key;
• an upper engagement member encompassing the first aperture and extending outwardly from the main body, the upper engagement member adapted to engage the upper elongate member;
• a lower engagement member extending outwardly from the main body, the lower engagement member adapted to engage the lower elongate member;
• a locking member having a magnetic portion and movably disposed within the internal chamber, the locking member adapted to selectively:
• maintain the theft deterrent system in a locked configuration in which the locking member prevents longitudinal movement of the upper elongate member within the locking apparatus and the lower engagement member and the lower elongate member cooperate to prevent the article from being removed from the lower elongate member, and
• maintain the theft deterrent system in an unlocked configuration in which the locking member permits a degree of longitudinal movement of the upper elongate member within the locking apparatus such that the lower elongate member becomes disengaged from the lower engagement member to permit removal of the article from the lower elongate member;
• and
• a magnetic shield disposed between the outer surface of the housing and the magnetic key when inserted into the second aperture, the magnetic shield substantially preventing a magnetic force that is external to the housing from interacting with the locking member.

A theft deterrent system for mounting to a side of a display panel and for deterring the theft of an article, the theft deterrent system comprising:

• a rigid article securement member comprising a first elongate portion, a second elongate portion and a connecting portion connecting the first elongate portion with the second elongate portion, the first and second elongate portions being generally parallel to each other;
• and
• a locking apparatus that is adapted to be mounted to the rear-facing side of the display panel, the locking apparatus comprising;
• a housing defining an internal chamber, the housing including:
• a first aperture passing from an outer surface of the housing into the internal chamber and adapted to receive the first elongate portion of the article securement member;
• a second aperture adapted to receive the second elongate portion of the article securement member;
• and
• a third aperture adapted to receive a magnetic key;
• and
• a locking member having a magnetic portion and movably disposed within the internal chamber, the locking member adapted to selectively:
• maintain the theft deterrent system in a locked configuration in which the locking member prevents the article securement member from being withdrawn from at least one of the first and second apertures and the article securement member and the locking apparatus cooperate to secure the article to the display panel, when the magnetic key is not inserted into the second aperture, and
• maintain the theft deterrent system in an unlocked configuration in which the locking member permits the first elongate portion of the article securement member to be at least partially withdrawn from the first aperture and the second elongate portion of the article securement member to be fully withdrawn from the second aperture to allow removal of the article from the display panel, when the magnetic key is inserted into the second aperture.