Autokleptovestiomania

May 4, 2007 9:12 AM

Please help me steal my own trousers...

It's springtime, so I went to a department store the other day and bought a few pairs of gorgeous, flat-front trousers.

They look great and all, but unfortunately the clerk appeared to have left one of the store's loss-prevention devices (Sensormatic?) clipped into the pants leg. Usually these are removed at the register.

I have no idea how I made it out of the store without firing off security alarms, but be it as it may, physically getting back to this store is a pain and I have no idea how to puzzle off the device.

I'd like to know if there is a simple mechanical trick that will allow me to remove this tag by myself, without destroying this stylish pair of trousers and without having to return to the store. No speculation, please.

posted by Blazecock Pileon to clothing, beauty, & fashion (34 comments total)

I worked at a clothing store, and generally to get those things off, you just have to pull them apart. It's hard- at the store, they'll have a machine to do it. What exactly does the sensor look like- is it a small, round flat piece on one side, and a beige rectangular piece with a little mountain on the other?
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 9:19 AM on May 4, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

First hit on google for "clothing security device".
posted by DU at 9:21 AM on May 4, 2007

Aargg! I've had this happen before, and the solution I came up with was to return to the store with the item and receipt, and head directly to Customer Service. Hopefully, they'll notice the alarm going off when you enter the store, so they won't be that surprised.

Other than that, you probably have to find a removal device. Maybe there are some listed on craigslist or ebay? Or maybe you have a friend who works in retail who can help you?
posted by Sprout the Vulgarian at 9:21 AM on May 4, 2007

Is there another store that uses them that's actually convenient to you? I'd just walk over, receipt in hand, and ask for help.
posted by kmennie at 9:21 AM on May 4, 2007

Is there a store closer to you that might have the removal device to which you could take the receipt and the various pairs of trousers, speak with the manager, and beg help?
posted by OmieWise at 9:22 AM on May 4, 2007

You need to get back to one of the removers, receipt in hand, and have them do it. Otherwise, you could screw up the material. There's no easy way to do it at home. If there were, the devices would be partly ineffective and useless.
posted by jerseygirl at 9:25 AM on May 4, 2007

It's happened to others, too.
posted by jamaro at 9:26 AM on May 4, 2007

If it's not the dye-y type, pliers and lots of bending.

I did this with a tag left on a thin-knit cashmere sweater. I did not damage the sweater.
posted by that girl at 9:27 AM on May 4, 2007

This might be the same thing that OmieWise is suggesting, but I'm not positive.

Perhaps you could take the pants to a store other than the one you bought them at (say, the gap if you bought them at jcrew) and ask them to remove the offending piece of technology.

You may have more luck since they can be certain you didn't steal them from their store. Plus, they wouldn't care if you stole from their competitors.

Might get some dirty looks from the other shoppers though...
posted by .taft at 9:28 AM on May 4, 2007

I had to do this with a pair of shoes. I had to brute force the thing until I could fit a pair of wire cutters between the clamping surfaces to cut the metal spike that holds the two together.
posted by cowbellemoo at 9:28 AM on May 4, 2007

Check with your dry cleaner. They seem to have all sorts of mysterioso knowledge.

Also, check with Buffalo Exchange or Greene Street or Thrift for AIDS, or any of the other thrift/consignment/secondhand stores. I'm sure they get donations with security tags still attached.
posted by desuetude at 9:29 AM on May 4, 2007

I had this happen before, and when I called the store to ask about it (after spending lots of time trying to get it myself) they said that the device is held on through a very strong magnet, and that while I could try to pry the thing open, it was unlikely to work w/o damage to the item (or to me) and I'd just need to drive back across town to get someone to do it with the special tool/device that they have.

When I did, they didn't even ask for the receipt.
posted by dilettante at 9:30 AM on May 4, 2007

I've seen piles of loss prevention devices in dressing rooms before, so I'm guessing it isn't all that difficult for people to remove them. However, if you don't plan to wear them immediately and there is no convenient way to get back to the store, I'd call the store and speak to the general manager. Explain the situation and see if you can send the pants back w/ the receipt, have them remove it and the pants and receipt back to you. Since it is their fault, maybe they'll even offer to cover the shipping charges. I know this method sounds like a pain, it is easier than spending hours searching for a removal process and possibly damaging the pants.
posted by necessitas at 9:31 AM on May 4, 2007

this has happened to me too - after struggling with the tag for at least three days I took it back, with the receipt, and they removed it in around 30 secs...
posted by poissonrouge at 9:53 AM on May 4, 2007

I have always had success with a simple levering maneuver. Prise the smaller end away from the large, flat one with a sharp, fast motion. Use a chisel or a big screwdriver wrapped in a thin rag. Dremeling would be the next course of action.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 9:56 AM on May 4, 2007

Like others state above, I recommend bringing it back to the store with the receipt. It's not an uncommon occurrence.
posted by yeti at 9:57 AM on May 4, 2007

go to a store that's closer to you, show them your receipt, ask them to please take that thing off

I know people who tried to crack it open by themselves and ruined their clothes, it'll take a fraction of a second in a store
posted by matteo at 9:57 AM on May 4, 2007

(I mean it doesn't have to be the same store, people who work in retail know that it happens sometimes, no biggie)
posted by matteo at 9:58 AM on May 4, 2007

Take it back to the store, and they'll remove it. I've even had stores give me a free thing (socks or a sticker) to make up for the inconvenience, though I wouldn't count on that.
posted by croutonsupafreak at 10:19 AM on May 4, 2007

I bought a nice black leather coat that I wanted to wear on a hot date. Imagine my horror when I found the security tag was still on it as I bounced out of the house! I had the receipt, the store was close, so I bopped over to get some help.

The sales people were very sympathetic, and took care of me fast. I did have to promise to come back with a full report of the date...
posted by Corky at 10:24 AM on May 4, 2007

Is it a nicer department store? If you do have the receipt, call the store manager and tell them you want someone to come to your house and remove the device. They inconvenienced you - they should remedy that. This may not work, but it's worth a try.

I once worked for a retail store that had this policy. Each receipt has an number on it, identifying the employee who rang the purchase - employees could be fired on the spot for leaving a security tag attached. And if a customer called to complain, a manager had to drive to their home with the remover. (This didn't happen very often, because most of the time people just came back into the store.)
posted by peep at 10:24 AM on May 4, 2007

I bet a bearing splitter would pop it right apart.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 10:28 AM on May 4, 2007

This happened to a friend of mine, and she'd binned the receipt before she realised her problem.

She went back to the store, receiptless. I thought she was going to get arrested. They didn't even blink.
posted by tiny crocodile at 10:42 AM on May 4, 2007

This happened to me when I used to live hours from the mall I was going to have to return to (in my case, it was a pair of jeans with one of those "security dye" tags).

One of my more criminal friends showed me that you can just use a lighter to melt off the plastic nub (the side that isn't the security device, but rather just holds it on). You could damage your pants though. If it's REALLY that hard to go back to the mall, do it, but put a rag or towel between the security tag and the fabric so you don't burn your pants or get melted plastic on them. Once it's melted, it pulls right off.
posted by SassHat at 10:50 AM on May 4, 2007

Be very wary of doing it yourself, the danger of damage to the fabric is high. Perhaps you could post a photo of the offending tag so we can identify it, and the appropriate removal process?
posted by Joh at 11:04 AM on May 4, 2007

Ambrosia's technique is pretty much how I removed the tag from a shirt that was still all securified. It worked pretty easily, and the shirt was undamaged. It just takes a bit of brute force, and a bit of finesse.
posted by Greg Nog at 11:24 AM on May 4, 2007

SassHat's method was what I learned when I briefly dated a girl from Saginaw. She also showed me how to use a lighter to pop open those white things attached to CDs at stores like Meijer and Walmart.
posted by klangklangston at 11:42 AM on May 4, 2007

I'm at work, so I don't have these pants with me to photograph, but I get the feeling that it is too risky to try to drill or burn the pieces off. It looks like I'll call the store and take them back for sanitizing.

I have a lot of best-markings to hand out to everyone. Thanks to all for your help.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 12:19 PM on May 4, 2007

I say find another store with similar devices that's close to you, take the receipt and have them remove it.

I bought a shirt at Disneyworld once and didn't realize the secuirty tag was still there until after I flew back to Ohio. We called the Disney Store and they said that they didn't use the same kind of tags, but that JC Penny did, so we took it there and they removed it with no problem.
posted by thejanna at 12:27 PM on May 4, 2007

I have done it in the same situation with vise-grips. I very nearly ruined the garment in the process so if it happens again I am making the trip back to the store, probably.
posted by caddis at 12:53 PM on May 4, 2007

I've done it with pliers and a hammer, but it was a pain and left a millimeter size hole.
posted by Manjusri at 12:54 PM on May 4, 2007

I did it with a file and some swearing. The tag was attached to a $400 blazer. Whether that is a testament to my care or insanity I leave as an exercise to the reader.
posted by Skorgu at 2:50 PM on May 4, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

I've had this happen to me many a time. I'll ask my dad how he removes them.
posted by sperose at 3:53 PM on May 4, 2007

Jeez, you are one satisfied customer.
posted by caddis at 12:01 AM on May 6, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]