Abstract: The apparatus described herein is a chain with a warning sign attached to it, that incorporates an audible alarm signal which is activated when a person moves the chain away from an egress that it is blocking, such as a supermarket check-out lane. The apparatus solves the problem of how to block a check-out lane so as to draw attention to any patron who is exiting the store by way of an unattended check-out lane, yet is a device that can be easily discarded from the egress, in the event of an emergency. The unique sign incorporates circuitry within. In the preferred embodiment, the sign is a sandwich with outer layers that have something appropriate printed on them, such as "ALARMED EXIT--For Emergency Use Only", and the inner, hidden portion contains an audible alarm, a battery, an arming switch and position sensitive contacts for detecting when an unauthorized person tampers with the barrier.