A method of determining whether a radio frequency identifier (RFID) tag has been removed from an area can include, responsive to detecting an RFID tag in a first area, making an entry within a tag read cache associated with the first area. The entry within the tag read cache can include an identifier corresponding to the RFID tag and a timestamp indicating when the RFID tag was detected in the first area. A difference between a current time and the timestamp from the entry within the tag read cache can be calculated. An indication that the RFID tag is no longer in the first area can be provided if the difference exceeds a departure threshold.