Title: Know Your Rights if a Store Detains You for Shoplifting
Headings: Know Your Rights if a Store Detains You for Shoplifting
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Know Your Rights if a Store Detains You for Shoplifting
What Has to Happen for a Store to Detain You
What You Need To Know
What You Should Do
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Content: Know Your Rights if a Store Detains You for Shoplifting
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Know Your Rights if a Store Detains You for Shoplifting
Alan Henry
10/16/12 7:00AM
160
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Being detained by a store or mall security office under suspicion of shoplifting is an experience no one wants to have. Often mall security will try to pressure you into signing a statement admitting your guilt (often threatening to call the police if you don't) or force you to pay restitution for your offense, but in some cases things can escalate. If you're detained for shoplifting—regardless of whether you're innocent or guilty—you have rights. Here's what you need to know. Advertisement
This post is part of our Evil Week series at Lifehacker, where we look at the dark side of getting things done. Knowing evil means knowing how to beat it, so you can use your sinister powers for good. Want more? Check out our evil week tag page. What Has to Happen for a Store to Detain You
The first thing you need to know is what a store has to have or has to see in order to exercise their right to detain you. First, a witness or employee needs to establish probable cause.