# Ink tag

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Shoplifting prevention device

An ink tag used for retail loss prevention. It is attached to clothing, with a paper price tag underneath.

**Ink tags** are a form of [retail loss prevention](/source/Retail_loss_prevention) that is commonly used in [clothing stores](/source/Clothing_store). These tags contain glass [vials](/source/Vial) filled with permanent [ink](/source/Ink) and have a thick plastic cover.[1] The tags are attached to the items they protect with a magnetic lock which requires a special tool to remove. When forcibly removed from the item the vials of ink will shatter, releasing the ink and irreparably damaging the fabric. The tags typically have warning labels to discourage tampering. Ink tags fall into the loss prevention category called [benefit denial](/source/Retail_loss_prevention#Security_tags). As the name suggests, an ink tag discourages theft by denying the [shoplifter](/source/Shoplifter) any benefit for their efforts. Ink tags are most effective if used together with another anti-shoplifting system.[2]

## Benefits and drawbacks

Although the use of ink tags does not prevent the theft of an item, it does strongly discourage it by decreasing the benefit received by the shoplifter. Ink tags lack the benefits of other forms of loss prevention such as [RF ID tags](/source/RF_ID_tag), which can prevent theft of the item by alerting the retailer. Ink tags are, however, significantly cheaper.

Shoplifters have found ways to get around ink tags by developing their own removal systems.

## History

Ink tags were invented in 1986 by [Arthur J. Minasy](/source/Arthur_Minasy) as an additional retail loss prevention method most often used in conjunction with another type of tag such as an RF tag. The strategy of deterring rather than preventing theft was an innovation in retail security.[3]

## See also

- [Dye pack](/source/Dye_pack)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["What's inside a Retail Security Tag?"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VeWmCj9lZE). Retrieved 2023-10-06.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Charles A. Sennewald, John H. Christman, *Retail Crime, Security, and Loss Prevention*, pp.111-113, Elsevier, 2008 [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-12-370529-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-12-370529-0).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Ink Tags and Department Stores: How They Revolutionized Retail Security"](https://www.denvermart.com/ink-tags-and-department-stores-how-they-revolutionized-retail-security/). Retrieved 2023-10-05.

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