I think that both image processing and RFID-based merchandise-object tracking belong to your model of shoplift-detection rather than a model of shoplifting. In discussing the relative merits and technical feasibility of the two mechanisms, you are not saying anything about the phenomenon of shoplifting itself.

There is of course an arms race between shoplifters and shoplifting detection systems. Shops fit cameras and RFID tags, shoplifters adopt new evasion tactics and carry cheap devices to reprogram the RFID tags. So both the shoplifting model and the shoplifting-detection models evolve over time.

Image processing is a “very hard” problem. Imagine a person being tracked walking into a crowd. This is a “hard problem” with radar and much harder with images - and expensive.

As far as models go, I think RFID tagged merchandise maybe the more cost effective loss prevention model. Instead of tracking people-objects it is easier and less intrusive to track merchandise.

However, just tracking and tracing merchandise is no more “CEP” than single-object FedEx package tracking is “CEP”. However, processing the entire “event cloud” of FedEx packages in realtime and seeking enterprise or regional opportunities or threats that effect decison making *is* “CEP”.

((Editorial Note: I will continue to draw these distinctions even if a few database-oriented colleagues are “turned off” by it.))

Back to modelling shoplifting, I suggest folks define merchandise-objects and then track these objects based on a risk-based cost-benefit analysis, using an RFID-type technology. If we are comfortable with than, then we can further model detecting shoplifting.

Yours faithfully, Tim

According to the radio show, there are still a very significant amount of lone shoplifters. True, there are professional teams of shoplifters, mostly from South and Central America, but you can probably build detection systems for these too, as I am sure that these teams have patterns too.

(I am pretty sure that the American news show, 60 Minutes, did a profile of these shoplifting teams a few years ago. … Yep, they did … http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/02/20/60minutes/main601396.shtml)

I am curious as to the latest in image processing technology. Can’t you divide the store up into micro-grids, and infer a person’s pattern of movements as objects pass from one micro-grid to another with a certain direction and velocity of movement?

Maybe in the far future, as each person enters the store, they will be sprayed with an invisible mist that consists of nano RFID transmitters.

Thanks for stopping by and visiting! Actually, it is more challenging than this post indicates. Stay tuned for more on this off-topic later.

Yours faithfully, Tim