# Booster bag

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{{Short description|Shoplifter's tool}}
thumb|Aluminium foil bag used for shoplifting
A '''booster bag''' is a handmade bag used to [shoplift](/source/shoplifting), typically from retail stores, libraries, and any other location employing electronic security detectors to deter theft.<ref>{{cite book |last=Ross |first=Jeffrey Ian |title=Encyclopedia of Street Crime in America |year=2013 |publisher=SAGE Publications |isbn=978-1412999571 |page=377 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8hHFZx_tUhcC&dq=%22Booster+bag%22&pg=PA377}}</ref>
The booster bag can be an ordinary [shopping bag](/source/shopping_bag), [backpack](/source/backpack), pocketed garment, or other inconspicuous container whose inside is lined with a special conductive material, typically multiple layers of aluminium foil.<ref>{{cite book|last=Toobin |first=Jeffrey |authorlink=Jeffrey Toobin |title=The Best American Crime Reporting 2009 |year=2009 |publisher=[Ecco](/source/Ecco_Press) |isbn=978-0061959219 |page=[https://archive.org/details/bestamericancrim00jeff/page/278 278] |url=https://archive.org/details/bestamericancrim00jeff |url-access=registration|quote=Booster bag.}}</ref>

An item is placed inside the booster bag (effectively a [Faraday cage](/source/Faraday_cage)). This provides electromagnetic shielding, with the result that [electronic security tags](/source/Electronic_article_surveillance) inside the bag may not be detected by security coils in the detector antennas at the store exit.<ref name="BMB">{{cite book|last=Prabhakar|first=Hitha|title=Black Market Billions|year=2011|publisher=[FT Press](/source/FT_Press)|isbn=978-0132180245|pages=107, 250|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DlfoGviNKSAC&dq=%22Booster+bag%22&pg=PA107}}</ref>

Booster bags have been used by professional shoplifters for several years.{{Since when|date=June 2025}} Once a bag has been successfully tested,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.possolutions.com.au/blog/shoplifting-booster-bags |title=Shoplifting - booster bags |website=www.possolutions.com.au}}</ref> a shoplifter can steal dozens of items with very little effort.<ref>{{cite book|last=Segrave|first=Kerry|title=Shoplifting: A Social History |year=2001 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=0786450789 |page=[https://archive.org/details/shoplifting00kerr/page/6 6]|url=https://archive.org/details/shoplifting00kerr|url-access=registration|quote=Booster bag.}}</ref> However, as electronic article systems improve, shoplifters are turning to high efficiency tag removal devices.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Weinberg |first=MIchael |title=Careers in Crime An Applicant's Guide |publisher=[Andrews McMeel Publishing, LLC](/source/Andrews_McMeel_Publishing%2C_LLC) |year=2009 |isbn=978-0740788956 |page=207}}</ref>

The name "booster bag" comes from "boost" in the slang sense of "to shoplift".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boost |title=Definition of BOOST |website=www.merriam-webster.com |publisher=[Merriam Webster](/source/Merriam_Webster)}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [Electronic article surveillance](/source/Electronic_article_surveillance)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{cite web | title = Booster Bags Use Foil to Foil Any Store's Anti-Shoplifting Machines | date = June 17, 2005 | work = [RealTechNews](/source/RealTechNews) | url = http://www.realtechnews.com/2005/06/17/booster-bags-use-foil-to-foil-store-security-machines/ | access-date = March 7, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100307173824/http://www.realtechnews.com/2005/06/17/booster-bags-use-foil-to-foil-store-security-machines/ | archive-date = March 7, 2010 | url-status = dead }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Booster Bag}}
Category:Bags
Category:Security

{{crime-stub}}

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Booster bag](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Booster_bag) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Booster_bag?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.