What are the laws about store employees catching shoplifters?

Question

I work at Food Lion grocery store and I see people shoplifting all the time and I never do anything ecxept go tell my boss then they are gone by that time. What are the laws for physically stopping somebody?? I don't want to end up with some kind of assault charge because I got in a fight with somebody stealing beer - what as an employee am I legally allowed to do? I asked all my superiors at work this and all of them just mumbled and changed the subject

Answer 1

The laws in every state are different. You should pose this question to a lawyer in your area.

Generally, a store owner has a right to protect his, her or it's merchandise, including taking reasonable steps to apprehend shoplifters. That means you could take reasonable steps to stop the person and detain them until authorities arrive.

There are, however, many reasons to avoid taking such measures, including the policies and procedures that you employer has in place. While they may appreciate you stopping someone from stealing beer, you may get fired for violating company policy, especially if the person, or you gets hurt and a lawsuit may follow. You would be well advised to find out what the policies are with respect to stopping shoplifters and follow those guidelines, even if that means that you can do no more than what you are already doing. Most grocery chains have inventory control specialists; unless that is your job, you should leave the fighting to them.

Answer 2

Listen -- the best thing to do is tell your supervisor. It is up to them to set up some kind of security system. If they think the best thing is to allow the occasional theft in order to save money, or for other reasons, that is their business decision.

You could stop someone, and if they hit you you could defend yourself without legal liability -- though they no doubt would lie and say you assaulted them, and it would be a matter of proof. No matter what the law is, why would you want to risk getting into a fight because someone is stealing your employers' beer -- esp. when they don't care enough to stop it themselves?

Answer 3

You're employers are not allowed to tell you to stop a shoplifter because if you get hurt then its their fault and they are lible.

You cannot physically assault someone who's stealing from your employer, that's assault and you can get charged.

Answer 4

Generally, you have to see the item they socked away and be able to describe/name it. You also have to follow them to make sure that there was no chance they put it down. You are not allowed to touch them.

These are the rules I was given when I worked retail. I would suggest asking your manager if there is a section in the handbook dealing with this or if they would prefer not to bother worrying about shrink.

Answer 5

In some states you're able to be arrested in case you demonstrate an purpose to steal. the place have been you? And why have been you attempting to cover an merchandise? Edited on your added concepts: in accordance to the criminal Code of Iowa (financial ruin 808.12:) " a million. persons concealing sources as set forth in area 714.5 , may be detained and searched by utilising a peace officer, guy or woman employed in a facility containing library components, provider provider, or product proprietor's worker, on condition that the detention is for a lifelike length of time and that the seek is carried out in a lifelike way by utilising a guy or woman of the comparable intercourse and in accordance to subsection 2 of this area." area 714.5 says "the reality that a guy or woman has hid library components or kit as defined in area 702.22 or unpurchased sources of a save or different mercantile organization, the two on the premises or outdoors the premises, is fabric information of motive to deprive the owner, and the finding of library components or kit or unpurchased sources hid upon the guy or between the assets of the guy, is fabric information of motive to deprive and, if the guy conceals or reasons to be hid library components or kit or unpurchased sources, upon the guy or between the assets of yet another, the finding of the hid components, kit or sources is likewise fabric information of motive to deprive on the area of the guy concealing the library components, kit or products." that's suited to the two libraries and mercantile institutions -- in different words, a save. So in case you have been hiding it under your coat, even if in case you assert it become by utilising accident, they have been completely interior their criminal top to have you ever searched.

Answer 6

Don't risk your safety from a desperate thief...How much are they taking...Is it really worth it. Beer..**** man come on...Most people are honest and desire to be...No one really makes a life of stealing.