Detecting fraudulently deactivated security devices for asset protection

1. A method for asset protection during self-checkout, comprising:

initiating, by a processor of a computing system, a checkout process at a point of sale computer terminal, in response to an input by a user;

detecting, by the processor, that a first item includes a first security device coupled to the first item, in response to the first item being scanned by the user at the point of sale computer terminal;

instructing, by the processor, the user to deactivate the first security device and then place the first item into a bagging area, wherein a deactivator is located at the point of sale computer terminal to deactivate the first security device;

directing, by the processor, a detection source to scan the bagging area after the first item and other items have been placed into the bagging area; and

determining, by the processor, based on the scanning by the detection source, that a second security device coupled to an at least one item other than the first item in the bagging area has been deactivated, but the at least one item has not been scanned by the user at the point of sale computer terminal.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: notifying, by the processor, an operator that the second security device has been detected at the point of sale computer terminal, wherein the notifying is performed without alerting the user.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detection source is a lidar system or a terra hertz radiation device, disposed proximate the bagging area.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein potential fraud is detected at the point of sale computer terminal before the user reaches an anti-shoplifting security system proximate an exit door.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising alerting, by the processor, the user that the at least one item needs to be scanned into the point of sale computer terminal, so that the user can take a corrective action.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one item is located inside a packaging of the first item, such that the deactivator deactivates both the first security device and the second security device during a deactivation of the first item, after scanning the first item.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detection source emits radiation that penetrates a packaging of the first item to detect a presence of the second security device.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, directing, by the processor, the detection source to scan an area surrounding the bagging area.

9. A system for asset protection during self-checkout, comprising:

a processor;

a detection source coupled to the processor; and

a computer readable storage device coupled to the processor, wherein the storage device contains program code executable by the processor via the memory device to implement a method for asset protection during checkout, the method comprising:

initiating, by a processor of a computing system, a checkout process at a point of sale computer terminal, in response to an input by a user;

detecting, by the processor, that a first item includes a first security device coupled to the first item, in response to the first item being scanned by the user at the point of sale computer terminal;

instructing, by the processor, the user to deactivate the first security device and then place the first item into a bagging area, wherein a deactivator is located at the point of sale computer terminal to deactivate the first security device;

directing, by the processor, the detection source to scan the bagging area after the first item and other items have been placed into the bagging area; and

determining, by the processor, based on the scanning by the detection source, that a second security device coupled to an at least one item other than the first item in the bagging area has been deactivated, but the at least one item has not been scanned by the user at the point of sale computer terminal.

10. The computer system of claim 9 , further comprising: notifying, by the processor, an operator that the second security device has been detected at the point of sale computer terminal, wherein the notifying is performed without alerting the user.

11. The computer system of claim 9 , wherein the detection source is a lidar system or a terra hertz radiation device, disposed proximate the bagging area.

12. The computer system of claim 9 , wherein potential fraud is detected at the point of sale computer terminal before the user reaches an anti-shoplifting security system proximate an exit door.

13. The computer system of claim 9 , further comprising alerting, by the processor, the user that the at least one item needs to be scanned into the point of sale computer terminal, so that the user can take a corrective action.

14. The computer system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one item is located inside a packaging of the first item, such that the deactivator deactivates both the first security device and the second security device during a deactivation of the first item, after scanning the first item.

15. The computer system of claim 9 , wherein the detection source emits radiation that penetrates a packaging of the first item to detect a presence of the second security device.

16. The computer system of claim 9 , further comprising, directing, by the processor, the detection source to scan an area surrounding the bagging area.

17. A computer program product, comprising a computer readable hardware storage device storing a computer readable program code, the computer readable program code comprising an algorithm that when executed by a computer processor of a computing system implements a method for asset protection during checkout, the method comprising:

initiating, by a processor of a computing system, a checkout process at a point of sale computer terminal, in response to an input by a user;

detecting, by the processor, that a first item includes a first security device coupled to the first item, in response to the first item being scanned by the user at the point of sale computer terminal;

instructing, by the processor, the user to deactivate the first security device and then place the first item into a bagging area, wherein a deactivator is located at the point of sale computer terminal to deactivate the first security device;

directing, by the processor, a detection source to scan the bagging area after the first item and other items have been placed into the bagging area; and

determining, by the processor, based on the scanning by the detection source, that a second security device coupled to an at least one item other than the first item in the bagging area has been deactivated, but the at least one item has not been scanned by the user at the point of sale computer terminal.

18. The computer program product of claim 17 , further comprising: notifying, by the processor, an operator that the second security device has been detected at the point of sale computer terminal, wherein the notifying is performed without alerting the user.

19. The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein the detection source is a lidar system or a terra hertz radiation device, disposed proximate the bagging area.

20. The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein potential fraud is detected at the point of sale computer terminal before the user reaches an anti-shoplifting security system proximate an exit door.

21. The computer program product of claim 17 , further comprising alerting, by the processor, the user that the at least one item needs to be scanned into the point of sale computer terminal, so that the user can take a corrective action.

22. The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein the at least one item is located inside a packaging of the first item, such that the deactivator deactivates both the first security device and the second security device during a deactivation of the first item, after scanning the first item.

23. The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein the detection source emits radiation that penetrates a packaging of the first item to detect a presence of the second security device.

24. The computer program product of claim 17 , further comprising, directing, by the processor, the detection source to scan an area surrounding the bagging area.