Security Fog for Retail: Jewellery, Cannabis, Cards, and Cellphones

Retail theft after hours follows a script. A vehicle backs into the front glass or a door is forced, two or three people run in, they empty the cases closest to the door, and they're gone in under three minutes, well before anyone can respond. Cameras record it. The alarm reports it. Neither one stops it.

Security fog is built for exactly this script. When the alarm confirms a break-in, the store fills with dense, harmless fog in seconds. The thieves can't see the cases, can't see each other, and can't see the way out. Most leave immediately, with nothing. UR Fog, the manufacturer we install, reports that alarm plus fog prevents theft in 97 percent of cases, compared with 17 percent for an alarm on its own.

Here's how fog applies to the four retail categories that get targeted most in Ontario.

Jewellery and watches

The classic fog customer. Stock is small, dense in value, and displayed in glass cases that break easily. A single smash-and-grab can cost more than a year of security spending.

For a jewellery store the fog unit is positioned so the discharge lands between the entrance and the display floor first, which cuts the thieves off from the cases before they reach them. Stores with a back office or safe room often add a second, smaller unit there. Because UR Fog units keep running for 1.5 to 3.5 hours after a power cut, according to the manufacturer, cutting the power beforehand, a common tactic, doesn't disable it.

Cannabis retail

Cannabis stores in Ontario have a specific problem: product must be stored securely, the stores are widely known to hold both stock and cash, and they've become a favourite target for overnight break-ins.

Fog works well here because the sales floor and the secure storage room are both defined spaces that can each be protected with a correctly sized unit. The manufacturer states the fog fluid leaves no residue and has been assessed as not dangerous to people or animals, and there's a food-grade fluid option for stores that prefer it. Fog also fits neatly into the security plan that provincial regulations already require the store to have.

Trading card and collectibles shops

This category has grown quickly, and so has theft from it. High-grade cards, sealed product, and graded slabs are light, easy to carry, and easy to sell. A single showcase can hold tens of thousands of dollars.

We know this segment from both sides: KingsGuard protects collectibles businesses, and we've watched theft in the hobby rise. Fog is often the difference between a store that can afford insurance and one that can't. It's usually paired with Verkada cameras and live monitoring so an operator can talk to the intruder while the room fills.

Cellphone and electronics stores

Phones, tablets, and laptops are the most portable high-value stock there is, and most stores keep them in a stockroom behind the counter. The fog unit goes in the stockroom, sized to the room, so the fog is where the product is. Some retailers also protect the sales floor where demo units are displayed.

How it connects to the rest of your security

We integrate UR Fog with Verkada alarm systems. A door contact, glass-break sensor, or camera detects the intrusion while the store is armed, the Verkada panel fires a relay to the fog unit, and the store fills. At the same time, Verkada's talk-down speaker and siren activate, and our monitoring operators verify the event on video and dispatch police or a KingsGuard patrol. You can choose to have the fog fire instantly on alarm, or only after an operator confirms on video that it's a real intrusion. For stores on our Ajax alarm platform, UR Fog's "Ajax Ready" line integrates there instead.

Common questions from retailers

Will it damage my stock? The manufacturer states the fog leaves no residue on products, electronics, or surfaces.

Will it set off the fire alarm? It can, if the two systems aren't coordinated. Part of our installation is working with your fire alarm and monitoring station so a fog discharge isn't treated as a fire.

What about a false alarm during the day? The system is armed only when the store is closed and the alarm is set. It doesn't fire on a normal working day.

How long until I can open? The fog clears with ventilation. In most stores you're back to normal visibility well within the hour.

What does it cost? It depends on room size and the number of units. Quotes are free.

Ready to see it? Book a fog demonstration and we'll fill a room for you.