Remove a security tag from an article of clothing

I'm really not surprised a store forgot to do this, but in the end I was left to dealt with this.

When my Mom brought home her new pair of gloves, which she paid for not stole, she went to use them and found that the security tag (non-ink one) was still attached.

The following is a simple and very useful instructable to free your clothing articles.

Step 1 The Enemy and The Weapons

Here you have it. The super tight miniature pin that locks this device in place.

You won't need much if you have the proper tools.
- Ice pick or sharp skinny object (a pocket knife will work fine here)
- A pair of horse nippers. I highly recommend keeping a pair of these around at all times. They are basically a huge pair of toenail clippers, but super sharp. (heavy duty wire cutters will also work here, but might be a little harder to work with).
- A skinny flat-head screwdriver.

Comments

[mcorcoran]

THANK YOU SO MUCH for posting this -- someone donated a nice bag to our fundraiser but it had the ink tag still on it!! I just got it off with a little effort, as you said -- AWESOME!

Thanks again!

[TheRMSDave]

I just removed the rectangular ink-filled kind from a Land's End sweater by biting the soft plastic away on the smaller portion of the device with a pliers. Inside was a spring metal clip with a slit through which the pin is inserted.

Knowing what I now know, it would've been faster to insert a can opener (the kind that punches a hole in a juice can top), large pin or small nail with a curved tip through the plastic right beside the pin (narrow side) to press the tabs upward to release it.

The second method would be to turn one piece ninety degrees relative to the other and use two pairs of pliers to grab the ends of the smaller rectangular piece. Simply bend both ends downward over the portion containing the ink, curving the clip until the slit opens enough to release the pin.

[ParkerK]

You can also buy a remover online legally. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220631461326&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT has some and you can email [e-mail] to buy one.

[Lftndbt]

Did this one have an ink pack? I assume not... Please be careful when attempting this on ink filled unit. As the store does not have to return the item, if you attempted to remove the security pack/tag. LoL ink packs are sooo funny when they blow/leak out onto expensive things.... ;)

[platinum15]

 wait...... wats an ink pack????

[Yerboogieman]

You know, if you take your article of clothing back with the receipt, they would be more than happy to take it off for free.

[platinum15]

yeah but its funner this way

[chriselite]

In my experience in the retail industry I know all about security tags the above security tag actually is not removed by an "electro magnet" when it's placed in the electric tag remover at the cashwrap it is secured by a metal retainer and when the tag is inserted all the way in two metal pins come up and apply pressure in the two indents on each side of the "node" releasing the grooved pin from the body and the tag is free .The second type of tag is removed by a magnet but not an electro magnet it's just a very strong magnet which pulls up a little metal washer like mechanism inside of the pin cavity releasing the security tag another method that will work to release this type of tag is actually just hold the garment and slap the tag against a hard surface almost like your skipping a rock the second method is to find a very powerful magnet and removing it just like personnel do .Hope this helps !!!!Be informed this is just for educational purposes please do not go get busted at your local clothing store for theft any thing over 50 dollars in considered a felony and most companies have a must prosecute law for anything over that amount .

[robinw13]

I am really glad to find this subject out here...just got home from store and found one of the bloody little buggers still attached. I'm going to try to remove it with the steps shown here; but for future reference: I'd like to have the magnet handy to save my beat up hands. You all mentioned using a strong magnet--but how strong? (i'm clueless on magnets) How do you know what strength of magnet you are getting and where the heck to you even get one? Thanks so much. robinw13

[chriselite]

sorry for the delay robin as you have probably removed the security tag by now but just incase your patiently waiting on a reply here it is ,Strong magnets are easily attainable over the net usually called neo magnets or "technically referred to as" neodymium magnets " or rare earth magnets and usually the strength is rated in lbs the more pounds these can pull the bigger they are so hope that's enough info for you and just google neo magnets and you will find tons of suplyers

[M.Hunter]

In my experience of removing these tags I find freezing them before sniping works pretty well. Gives you some room for error lol

[teknoman]

I know from experience (not from stealing, my sister got a shirt that Peebles never took the ink tag off of) that just about all of the ink tags stores use can easily be taken off by putting something like a hard drive magnet to the non-ink pack part of it. PS- then you can remove the glass ink capsules easier, then ttape them to a small firecracker and you have a small and loud ink bomb!

[bwpatton1]

Actually I think they are some sort of Electromagnet because when they but that bottom part thing in the holder thingee in the counter it kindof makes a noise and a light comes on, then it is off! Wow that was a hand full!!!

[pikathebudgie1234]

that saves! altho my friend will shop lift now that he saw that

[dblaso]

Thanks, you just saved me a trip back to the store!! :-) It took less then a minute. I used a knife to remove the node. After that it was a few seconds before the pin popped out!

[Mechanical Advantage]

Just got home from the sporting goods store with a pair of shorts that still had one of these on. Snipped away a little plastic and bingo - had it removed in less than a minute, with no damage to the shorts. Very useful - thanks!

[bobbyk881]

Couldn't you just take a strong magnet and some pliers to get that kinda tag off. Btw great instructable

[DeltaDuc]

no, this is not activated by a magnet, look at how the metal plate hold onto the pin.

[Malaachi]

Umm why didn't you just line the larger part with a bunch a magnets, those things are magneticly released right?

[JamesRPatrick]

Or, you could take a soldering gun and melt off the circle part.

[vect97]

honestly, from experience...the easiest way to take them off is by bending the longer section of the tag. first bend it inwards towards the side that has the pin attached. then bend it outwards then inwards then outwards. after a few times the pin will fall out. Some can be harder than others but works 95% of the time.

[bethehammer]

I have had this problem with the ink filled kind. I bought a jacket on the way to the airport as I left for a business trip. I didnt realize that the tag was still on until I got to my destination. I wrapped both pieces of the tag with plastic wrap (or in my case the plastic bag I carried it out of the store with) then used a pair of wire cutters to slip between the tag and the material of the jacket and cut the metal peg. The key is to cut the metal peg with out breaking the plastic tag. Once cut remove it quickly in case the ink starts to leak a little. worked great.

[GorillazMiko]

Great Instructable! Now I'll bring these items to the store and.. woops. That's none of your business. Just kidding hahaha. Great job!

[Shifrin]

LOL!