Patent ID: 8094026

Claim:
An organized retail theft detection security system capable of monitoring removal of general merchandise items from a store environment, where the system is configured to monitor within a store using RFID tag information, where the system is configured to be aware of the removal of each registered general merchandise item as it is taken off a shelf, that is an RFID enabled smart shelf, indicating a potential large organized retail theft is occurring when 2 or more items are removed within a programmed range of time, where the components of the organized retail crime or theft detection security system comprise of: general merchandise items each with a passive RFID tags affixed on the inside or outside anywhere on the item or packaging; a fixed or mobile RFID reader; and RFID or Near Field Communication antennas enabled with wired or wireless (Wi-Fi) communications that provides registered RFID tag information to a local or hosted security software application; a camera surveillance system that is activated by a security controller software, whereby the security controller software transmits a notification message to pre-determined security personnel, main controller software at corporate data center or hosted security company via, SMS, MMS, RSS, IM, paging, or pre-recorded voice call, or screen splash or pop up on a mobile device, and whereby the RFID tag information is sent via any electronic means to pre-determined security personnel or store management, main controller software at corporate data center or hosted security company via an electronic means, and whereby a video clip of the event, or URL with a link to a web site to view the video clip beginning at a pre-determined time prior to the RFID reading and continuing to a pre-set time after the reading, is sent to security personnel, main controller software at corporate data center or hosted security company via MMS, RSS, IM, and whereby still digital photo images are extracted from the video clip and sent to one or multiple recipients using mobile devices via MMS, RSS, IM, to one or more recipients for immediate identification of person(s) who has removed items from store aisle that is being monitored; wherein the security software application causes the camera surveillance system to go into an alarm condition where a time stamp is set and camera speed is increased to higher resolution imaging if that feature is available; and where any number of available cameras can be set in an alarm condition, based on parameters set by the systems administrator comprising the total number of items taken off one shelf within a predetermined time period indicative of a theft in progress.