Title: Shoplifting Detention - How Retail Stores Detain a Suspected Shoplifter?
Headings: Shoplifting Detention – How Retail Stores Detain a Suspected Shoplifter?
Shoplifting Detention – How Retail Stores Detain a Suspected Shoplifter?
Shoplifting Detention
Shoplifting Detention: The Policy Decision
Shoplifting Detention: Approaching the Suspect
Shoplifting Detention: The Stop
Shoplifting Detention: The Use of force
Shoplifting Detention: Processing the Shoplifter
Shoplifting Detention: Written Incident Reports
About Chris McGoey

Content: Shoplifting Detention
Some retailers believe that arresting shoplifters is the greatest deterrent as the word is spread by store employees and gets out on the street. If a detention and arrest policy is desirable, it is critical for the merchant to understand the local laws of arrest before confronting anyone. Remember that the laws of the state have a different legal impact than store policy. What follows are some good “rule of thumb” guidelines to follow in most situations: Before detaining anyone, you must establish Shoplifting Probable Cause. To establish a solid base for probable cause and prevent false arrest claims, there are six universally accepted steps that a merchant should follow before deciding to stop someone suspected of shoplifting: You must see the shoplifter approach your merchandise
You must see the shoplifter select your merchandise
You must see the shoplifter conceal or carry away or convert your merchandise
You must maintain continuous observation the shoplifter
You must see the shoplifter fail to pay for the merchandise
You must approach the shoplifter outside of the store
Shoplifting Detention: The Policy Decision
The decision to approach and confront someone suspected of committing theft should not be taken lightly. It’s critical to provide special training to anyone charged with the responsibility of apprehending shoplifters. Some states have “Merchant Statutes” that give the store operator some limited liability protection if they approach a suspected shoplifter in good faith and the stop is based on a reasonable belief that shoplifting had occurred.