Use of article tags and surveillance sensors at store exits has not substantially reduced article shrinkage from shoplifting. In addition, the systems are expensive and have resulted in lawsuits in cases where sales personnel have forgotten to remove the tags and customers were publicly humiliated at store exits. As a result, some security directors and store owners argue that the use of store detectives and the certain prosecution of shoplifters are more efficient ways to reduce shrinkage. On the other hand, some experts contend that detectives often are not able to catch enough shoplifters to be cost effective. Moreover, regardless of their shortcomings, electronic systems allow sales personnel to concentrate on selling rather than on watching for theft, and the systems can be particularly cost-effective in stores having major shoplifting problems, such as in downtown and college town stores. Currently, electromagnetic, radio-frequency, and microwave systems are available with both the traditional hard plastic tags and newer, more lightweight, flexible tags. Some manufacturers are introducing cheap, disposable tags that can be hidden among other product tags and deactivated at the store's exit. However, the effectiveness of these systems depends upon proper training of store personnel. Illustrations are included. A reference list is not provided.