System and method for security and electronic article surveillance

A security system for a retail environment including a merchandise display area, at least one exit or entrance, and at least one shopping trolley the system comprising a transmitter and a security device connected to the trolley, the security device comprising a wireless receiver incorporating a processor, wherein the receiver is adapted to receive wireless signals from the transmitter located in the retail environment and the processor is adapted to analyze the received wireless signals so as to determine at least a direction of travel of the device relative to the transmitter and to count a number of times the device passes a given transmitter.

A method of providing security in a retail environment including a merchandise display area, at least one exit or entrance, and at least one shopping trolley the system comprising a transmitter and a security device connected to the trolley, the security device comprising, a receive-only wireless receiver incorporating a processor, wherein the receiver receives wireless signals from a transmitter located in the retail environment and the processor analyses the received wireless signals and determines at least a location of the device within the retail environment and counts a number of times the device passes a given transmitter, and wherein a transmitter is located at a predetermined choke point within the retail environment past which the shopping trolley must travel before leaving through the exit or entrance.

A method of providing security in a retail environment including a merchandise display area, at least one exit or entrance, and at least one shopping trolley the system comprising a transmitter and a security device comprising a wireless receiver incorporating a processor, wherein the receiver receives wireless signals from a transmitter located in the retail environment and the processor analyses the received wireless signals so as to determine at least a direction of travel of the device relative to the transmitter and counts a number of times the device passes a given transmitter.

A security device for a shopping trolley, the device comprising a receive-only wireless receiver incorporating a processor, wherein the receiver is adapted to receive wireless signals from a transmitter and the processor is adapted to analyze the received wireless signals so as to determine at least a location of the device within a predetermined spatial area and to count a number of times the device passes a given transmitter.