Anti-theft tag

An anti-theft tag for attachment to an article, comprising:

• an engagement member constructed and arranged to secure the tag to the article, the engagement member including:
• a) a line having a first end and a second end;
• and
• b) at least one crimping member, each crimping member having at least one crimping tooth, the at least one crimping tooth extending inward toward the line and constructed and arranged to crimp the line upon insertion of the second end into the at least one crimping member;
• a housing including a base, the base having at least one wall bounding a cavity;
• an electronic article surveillance sensor supported by the housing;
• an opening disposed through the at least one wall and sized to receive at least one end of the engagement member;
• and
• wherein the crimping member is supported within the cavity in alignment with the opening, the cavity including a space sized to receive at least one of the first and second ends of the line, the at least one crimping tooth extending into the space and constructed and arranged to engage and grip at least one end of the engagement member upon insertion within the crimping space such that the at least one end can only move further into the cavity and is restrained from moving in an opposite direction, out of the housing.

A method of attaching an anti-theft tag to an article comprising the steps of:

• providing a line constructed and arranged to secure the tag to the article, the line including a first end and a second end;
• providing a housing including a base having at least one wall bounding an interior cavity, the cavity being sized to receive an electronic article surveillance sensor, a cover, and at least a first opening in communication with the cavity;
• securing the first end of the line to the housing;
• providing at least one crimping member constructed and arranged to receive the line therein, the crimping member allowing movement of the line there through in a first direction into the housing, and preventing movement of the line in a second direction out of the housing once the line is crimped by the at least one crimping member;
• supporting the at least one crimping member within the cavity of the housing such that it is in alignment with the first or second opening and so that it remains longitudinally stationary within the housing during use.

An anti-theft tag for attachment to an article, comprising:

• a housing;
• an engagement member including a line, the line having a first end and a second end, one of the first and second ends being supported by the housing in an open position;
• and
• wherein the other of the first and second ends of the line are supported by the housing in a closed position so as to form a loop external to the housing, the first and second ends of the housing and the loop rotating relative to the housing upon applying a twisting force to the line so as to deter breakage of the line upon application of the twisting force.