Current Events > Can retail security touch shoplifters?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Have heard conflicting stuff about this. Can retail loss prevention physically detain shoplifters?

---

Depends on the state and laws


---

I think it depends on the store.

my friend did loss prevention at Macys and she was a bjj blue belt or something and would drop dudes if she needed to

---

Of course. It's part of their job. They can chase you down, tackle you to the ground, and restrain you.

Where I live, anyway.

---

She doesnt do security, but my fianc has worked retail for 5 years and counting.

she can literally watch someone put an item in their purse, and she cant do shit about it. Like shes not even allowed to confront them. Garbage.

---

In Ireland at least there's no actual crime commited until the person exits the shop or is in the exit area, like past the registers and how to door way so you need to prove they were in fact stealing it


---

KeeperOfShadows posted...

Of course. It's part of their job. They can chase you down, tackle you to the ground, and restrain you.

Where I live, anyway.

pretty sure that walmart's policy and home depot is that they cannot touch them

---

JebronLames posted...

pretty sure that walmart's policy and home depot is that they cannot touch them

Well, I wouldn't know if the policy has changed over the years, but my local Walmart's security is the main one I'm talking about. Can't remember the last time I've actually seen a shoplifter apprehended, though.

---

Varies by state, store, and if they're employed through a security company then that policy.

---

I4NRulez posted...

I think it depends on the store.

my friend did loss prevention at Macys and she was a bjj blue belt or something and would drop dudes if she needed to

I was gonna ask how often a normal sized dude cant escape a female blue belt but i guess macys doesnt attract a lot of sizeable type dudes.

---

CanuckCowboy posted...

I was gonna ask how often a normal sized dude cant escape a female blue belt but i guess macys doesnt attract a lot of sizeable type dudes.

to be fair she wasnt small. Im 64 and she was about 510ish if I had to guess. She was also in the military prior.

i met her after her days at Macys and a lot of the people she caught were teenagers

---

An off-duty cop shot a shoplifter to death at Dillard's or Kauffman's about 25-30 years ago.

---

yes. i worked at walmart for 8 hellish years and i saw AP straight up tackle people to the ground and then put them in cuffs. the rule seemed to be if they were still in the store they were fair game. once they exited the building they had to let them go.

---

On Live PD Target security had tackled a guy and locked in a holding cell specifically for shoplifters. The cops came, interviewed everyone, and arrested the shoplifter

so apparently in some states they can assault and kidnap you for stealing

---

security can where i live, i've watched it happen

just not the regular floor staff, because obviously they're not trained and it's a risk

---

I saw a series about loss prevention and youd be amazed how many times they just have sex with the thief and let them go.

Actually it happens every episode.

---