A method and system for detecting an object transiting an interrogation zone of an electronic article surveillance ("EAS") system and determining whether the object is a person entering or exiting the facility in order to increment a corresponding counter. A first zone detector detects motion in a first zone. The first zone detector can be a first passive infrared ("PIR") detector. A second zone detector detects motion in a second zone different from the first zone. The second zone detector can be a second PIR detector. A processor is in communication with the first and second zone detectors in which the processor receives data from the first and second zone detectors to determine whether to increment a count value based at least in part on the received data.