A security system to restrict unauthorized removal of an article from an area, said security system comprising: at least one security tag assembly structured for attachment to the article , said one security tag assembly including an RFID component structured for encoding the article data associated with the article to which it is attached, a deactivator assembly including a release component and a read component , said read component structured to read the article data encoded in said RFID component , and on-off modes operative to define restricted operation of said deactivator assembly , said restricted operation including deactivation of at least said deactivator assembly when in an off--mode, said deactivator assembly and said at least one security tag assembly being cooperatively structured to read, by means of said read component , the article data via proximity scanning of said at least one security tag assembly relative to said deactivator assembly , said release component operative to detach said at least one security tag assembly from the article substantially concurrent to said proximity scanning, and a processor including display facilities operatively associated with said deactivator assembly for display of article data read by and generated from said deactivator assembly , wherein said deactivator assembly is cooperatively structured to remain in an on-mode for a predetermined period of time and automatically reset into said off-mode upon expiration of said predetermined period of time, wherein the system further comprises at least one portable RFID device , carried and intended for use by predetermined authorized personnel, that is structured for wireless communication with said deactivator assembly and operative to establish at least the on- mode of said deactivator assembly , and wherein said portable RFID device is further structured to be disposed in scanning relation to said deactivator assembly to reestablish said on-mode in said deactivator assembly. at least one security tag assembly structured for attachment to the article , said one security tag assembly including an RFID component structured for encoding the article data associated with the article to which it is attached, a deactivator assembly including a release component and a read component , said read component structured to read the article data encoded in said RFID component , and on-off modes operative to define restricted operation of said deactivator assembly , said restricted operation including deactivation of at least said deactivator assembly when in an off--mode, said deactivator assembly and said at least one security tag assembly being cooperatively structured to read, by means of said read component , the article data via proximity scanning of said at least one security tag assembly relative to said deactivator assembly , said release component operative to detach said at least one security tag assembly from the article substantially concurrent to said proximity scanning, and a processor including display facilities operatively associated with said deactivator assembly for display of article data read by and generated from said deactivator assembly , wherein said deactivator assembly is cooperatively structured to remain in an on-mode for a predetermined period of time and automatically reset into said off-mode upon expiration of said predetermined period of time, wherein the system further comprises at least one portable RFID device , carried and intended for use by predetermined authorized personnel, that is structured for wireless communication with said deactivator assembly and operative to establish at least the on- mode of said deactivator assembly , and wherein said portable RFID device is further structured to be disposed in scanning relation to said deactivator assembly to reestablish said on-mode in said deactivator assembly. <EOS>