Knowledge

Shopkeeper's privilege

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861:. The shopkeepers' privilege is for the purpose of investigation only; if, after reasonable detention and investigation, the shopkeepers mistakenly conclude that the suspects are guilty and have them arrested, the shopkeepers may become liable for these acts just as they would have been had they committed the acts without undertaking a prior detention and investigation. Statutes in many states have modified and in some cases broadened the common law privilege, for example, by expressly permitting detention of the suspect until the police arrive. In other cases, case precedent has provided shopkeepers with similar tools. The practical effect of these extensions is to give the shopkeeper the same privilege as a police officer to make an arrest on reasonable grounds. 890:; the detention itself should be effected either on the store premises or in the immediate vicinity thereof. The privilege likely would not apply to after-the-fact questioning of a suspected thief who had left the store's property. While the common law does permit the owner of goods acting on fresh pursuit to use reasonable force to recapture their goods from one who actually took them wrongfully, in doing so the property owner acts at their own peril. Moreover, the investigation must be to determine ownership of the property, not to force a confession. 791: 869:
This privilege has been justified by the practical need for some degree of protection for shopkeepers in their dealings with suspected shoplifters. Absent such privilege, a shopkeeper would be faced with the dilemma of either allowing suspects to leave without challenge or acting upon their suspicion
873:
The privilege for the most part is to be able to return the stolen goods by determining ownership. The shopkeeper may not force a confession. The shopkeeper's privilege does not include the power of search. Some courts, however, have expanded this original common law privilege to also include the
935:, that allow merchants, their employees, and their agents to detain suspected shoplifters for: the investigation of merchandise or property ownership, the recovery of unpurchased merchandise or property, and the summoning of a police officer. 919:. However, so long as these conditions are established, the shopkeeper is immune from liability for false arrest, battery, etc., even when it is discovered after the investigation that the person detained was innocent of any wrongdoing. 845:
on store property for a reasonable period of time, so long as the shopkeeper has cause to believe that the person detained in fact committed, or attempted to commit, theft of store property.
915:
In cases where a shopkeeper fails to satisfy the aforementioned requisite conditions, they lose the privilege and may face liability under local criminal statutes and civil
857:. If the shopkeepers exceed the bounds of this privilege and make an arrest, the lawfulness of their action will be determined by the jurisdiction's rules governing 932: 874:
detention of criminal trespassers: "he detention and removal of a criminal trespasser is an essential power of any shopkeeper or other property owner"
74: 214: 1359: 904:
is used to effect the detention. Such force being justified when the suspect is in immediate flight or violently resists detention.
1029: 149: 1342:
Annotation, Construction and Effect, in False Imprisonment Action, of Statute Providing for Detention of Suspected Shoplifters
853:
The privilege to detain, although recognized in many jurisdictions, is not as broad as a police officer's privilege to
821: 1379: 911:. Fifteen minutes may be too long where all that is necessary is to ask the cashier whether the detainee has paid. 540: 1263: 1184: 977: 472: 330: 363: 882:
In seeking to avail themself of the shopkeeper's privilege, the proprietor or agent thereof must ensure:
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The common law shopkeeper's privilege has been superseded in most states by so-called
1374: 1369: 1259: 1180: 973: 966: 807: 714: 709: 699: 694: 510: 489: 353: 299: 286: 234: 194: 724: 704: 577: 505: 457: 406: 339: 281: 189: 166: 108: 96: 1253: 1174: 719: 381: 310: 293: 1364: 759: 515: 397: 315: 117: 63: 58: 1353: 599: 1225:, No. 05-1113, 201 F. App'x 338, 342 (6th Cir. Oct. 18, 2006) (unpublished)" 777: 764: 754: 673: 259: 928: 842: 630: 229: 144: 838: 795: 739: 642: 594: 264: 205: 131: 23: 1210:, 1957 A.L.I. PROC. 283 (remarks of Mr. William L. Prosser, Reporter) 773: 1208:
Proceedings of the 34th Annual Meeting of The American Law Institute
790: 438: 749: 609: 372: 269: 91: 604: 572: 452: 274: 854: 647: 614: 1030:"The Protection and Recapture of Merchandise from Shoplifters" 909:
time necessary to make a reasonable investigation of the facts
916: 424: 31: 897:
to suspect the particular person detained is shoplifting.
837:
is a law recognized in the United States under which a
1315:
Christman, Steven M.; Mark, Jillian M. (19 May 2014).
1317:"Guidelines on Dealing With Suspected Shoplifters" 1232:United States Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit 965: 1351: 1314: 815: 75:Intentional infliction of emotional distress 1168: 1166: 1164: 1005:, 595 P.2d 975, 982 & n.5 (Cal. 1979)" 822: 808: 215:Negligent infliction of emotional distress 1291:, 69 P.2d 424 (Cal. Dist. Ct. App. 1937)" 1093:, 962 S.W.2d 539 (Sup. Ct., Tex., 1998)" 1161: 1144:, 598 N.E.2d 916, 918 (Ohio C.P. 1992)" 963: 877: 1352: 968:Prosser and Keeton on the law of torts 922: 907:The detention itself lasts only the 1062:Jacques v. Sears, Roebuck & Co. 16:Law recognized in the United States 13: 1122:, 393 N.E.2d 443, 445 (N.Y. 1979)" 1064:, 285 N.E.2d 871, 876 (N.Y. 1972)" 1034:Northwestern University Law Review 972:(5 ed.). West Publishing Co. 14: 1391: 1091:Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Resendez 841:is allowed to detain a suspected 1258:. American Law Institute. 1965. 1179:. American Law Institute. 1965. 789: 1360:Retail processes and techniques 1334: 1308: 1279: 1245: 964:Prosser, William Lloyd (1984). 886:The investigation is conducted 541:Ex turpi causa non oritur actio 1213: 1200: 1110: 1081: 1052: 1022: 993: 956: 1: 1255:Restatement (second) of Torts 1223:Durante v. Fairlane Town Ctr. 1176:Restatement (second) of Torts 950: 651:(term used for torts in some 1003:Cervantez v. J.C. Penney Co. 870:and risking a false arrest. 864: 7: 938: 902:reasonable, nondeadly force 859:arrest by a private citizen 547:Joint and several liability 10: 1396: 321:Comparative responsibility 1344:, 47 A.L.R. 3d 998 (1973) 1289:Moffatt v. Buffums', Inc. 848: 636:Non-economic damages caps 669:Private attorney general 623:Other topics in tort law 251:Principles of negligence 180:Alienation of affections 1380:Retailing-related crime 888:near or on the premises 534:Volenti non fit injuria 359:Ultrahazardous activity 326:Contributory negligence 945:Retail loss prevention 835:Shopkeeper's privilege 552:Market share liability 485:Shopkeeper's privilege 463:Statute of limitations 306:Restitutio ad integrum 155:Intrusion on seclusion 50:Trespass to the person 664:Conflict of tort laws 430:Tortious interference 185:Criminal conversation 172:Malicious prosecution 1340:Robert A. Brazener, 1321:New York Law Journal 1206:William L. Prosser, 878:Requisite conditions 162:Breach of confidence 933:merchant's statutes 893:The shopkeeper has 657:mixed legal systems 527:Respondeat superior 521:Vicarious liability 480:Defence of property 417:Insurance bad faith 331:Attractive nuisance 150:Invasion of privacy 962:See § 22, at 142, 895:reasonable grounds 557:Transferred intent 448:Assumption of risk 412:Restraint of trade 388:Rylands v Fletcher 220:Employment-related 69:False imprisonment 923:Statutory analogs 832: 831: 705:England and Wales 660: 511:Last clear chance 506:Intentional torts 490:Neutral reportage 473:Defense of others 421: 354:Product liability 300:Res ipsa loquitur 287:Reasonable person 195:Breach of promise 44: 1387: 1345: 1338: 1332: 1331: 1329: 1327: 1312: 1306: 1305: 1303: 1301: 1283: 1277: 1276: 1274: 1272: 1251:See § 101, 103, 1249: 1243: 1242: 1240: 1238: 1229: 1217: 1211: 1204: 1198: 1197: 1195: 1193: 1170: 1159: 1158: 1156: 1154: 1136: 1134: 1132: 1114: 1108: 1107: 1105: 1103: 1085: 1079: 1078: 1076: 1074: 1056: 1050: 1049: 1047: 1045: 1026: 1020: 1019: 1017: 1015: 997: 991: 990: 988: 986: 971: 960: 824: 817: 810: 794: 793: 650: 419: 282:Standard of care 167:Abuse of process 77: 38: 19: 18: 1395: 1394: 1390: 1389: 1388: 1386: 1385: 1384: 1350: 1349: 1348: 1339: 1335: 1325: 1323: 1313: 1309: 1299: 1297: 1285: 1284: 1280: 1270: 1268: 1266: 1252: 1250: 1246: 1236: 1234: 1227: 1219: 1218: 1214: 1205: 1201: 1191: 1189: 1187: 1173: 1171: 1162: 1152: 1150: 1142:State v. Hughes 1138: 1130: 1128: 1120:People v. Jones 1116: 1115: 1111: 1101: 1099: 1087: 1086: 1082: 1072: 1070: 1058: 1057: 1053: 1043: 1041: 1028: 1027: 1023: 1013: 1011: 999: 998: 994: 984: 982: 980: 961: 957: 953: 941: 925: 880: 867: 851: 828: 788: 682:By jurisdiction 382:Public nuisance 311:Rescue doctrine 294:Proximate cause 206:Negligent torts 118:Dignitary torts 73: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1393: 1383: 1382: 1377: 1372: 1367: 1362: 1347: 1346: 1333: 1307: 1295:Google Scholar 1278: 1264: 1244: 1212: 1199: 1185: 1160: 1148:Google Scholar 1126:Google Scholar 1109: 1097:Google Scholar 1080: 1068:Google Scholar 1051: 1021: 1009:Google Scholar 992: 978: 954: 952: 949: 948: 947: 940: 937: 924: 921: 913: 912: 905: 898: 891: 879: 876: 866: 863: 850: 847: 830: 829: 827: 826: 819: 812: 804: 801: 800: 799: 798: 796:Law portal 783: 782: 781: 780: 767: 762: 757: 752: 744: 743: 735: 734: 733: 732: 727: 722: 717: 712: 710:European Union 707: 702: 697: 692: 684: 683: 679: 678: 677: 676: 671: 666: 661: 645: 640: 639: 638: 625: 624: 620: 619: 618: 617: 612: 607: 602: 597: 592: 591: 590: 585: 580: 567: 566: 562: 561: 560: 559: 554: 549: 544: 537: 530: 523: 518: 516:Eggshell skull 513: 508: 500: 499: 495: 494: 493: 492: 487: 482: 477: 476: 475: 465: 460: 455: 450: 442: 441: 435: 434: 433: 432: 427: 422: 420:(American law) 414: 409: 401: 400: 398:Economic torts 394: 393: 392: 391: 384: 376: 375: 369: 368: 367: 366: 361: 356: 348: 347: 336: 335: 334: 333: 328: 323: 318: 316:Duty to rescue 313: 308: 303: 296: 291: 290: 289: 279: 278: 277: 272: 267: 254: 253: 247: 246: 245: 244: 243: 242: 237: 227: 222: 217: 209: 208: 202: 201: 200: 199: 198: 197: 192: 187: 182: 174: 169: 164: 159: 158: 157: 147: 142: 141: 140: 137: 129: 121: 120: 114: 113: 112: 111: 106: 105: 104: 99: 86: 85: 84:Property torts 81: 80: 79: 78: 71: 66: 61: 53: 52: 46: 45: 35: 34: 28: 27: 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1392: 1381: 1378: 1376: 1373: 1371: 1368: 1366: 1363: 1361: 1358: 1357: 1355: 1343: 1337: 1322: 1318: 1311: 1296: 1292: 1290: 1282: 1267: 1261: 1257: 1256: 1248: 1233: 1226: 1224: 1216: 1209: 1203: 1188: 1182: 1178: 1177: 1169: 1167: 1165: 1149: 1145: 1143: 1127: 1123: 1121: 1113: 1098: 1094: 1092: 1084: 1069: 1065: 1063: 1055: 1039: 1035: 1031: 1025: 1010: 1006: 1004: 996: 981: 975: 970: 969: 959: 955: 946: 943: 942: 936: 934: 931:statutes, or 930: 920: 918: 910: 906: 903: 899: 896: 892: 889: 885: 884: 883: 875: 871: 862: 860: 856: 846: 844: 840: 836: 825: 820: 818: 813: 811: 806: 805: 803: 802: 797: 792: 787: 786: 785: 784: 779: 775: 771: 768: 766: 763: 761: 758: 756: 753: 751: 748: 747: 746: 745: 741: 737: 736: 731: 730:United States 728: 726: 723: 721: 718: 716: 713: 711: 708: 706: 703: 701: 698: 696: 693: 691: 688: 687: 686: 685: 681: 680: 675: 672: 670: 667: 665: 662: 658: 654: 649: 646: 644: 641: 637: 634: 633: 632: 629: 628: 627: 626: 622: 621: 616: 613: 611: 608: 606: 603: 601: 598: 596: 593: 589: 586: 584: 581: 579: 576: 575: 574: 571: 570: 569: 568: 564: 563: 558: 555: 553: 550: 548: 545: 543: 542: 538: 536: 535: 531: 529: 528: 524: 522: 519: 517: 514: 512: 509: 507: 504: 503: 502: 501: 497: 496: 491: 488: 486: 483: 481: 478: 474: 471: 470: 469: 466: 464: 461: 459: 456: 454: 451: 449: 446: 445: 444: 443: 440: 437: 436: 431: 428: 426: 423: 418: 415: 413: 410: 408: 405: 404: 403: 402: 399: 396: 395: 390: 389: 385: 383: 380: 379: 378: 377: 374: 371: 370: 365: 362: 360: 357: 355: 352: 351: 350: 349: 345: 341: 338: 337: 332: 329: 327: 324: 322: 319: 317: 314: 312: 309: 307: 304: 302: 301: 297: 295: 292: 288: 285: 284: 283: 280: 276: 273: 271: 268: 266: 263: 262: 261: 258: 257: 256: 255: 252: 249: 248: 241: 238: 236: 233: 232: 231: 228: 226: 223: 221: 218: 216: 213: 212: 211: 210: 207: 204: 203: 196: 193: 191: 188: 186: 183: 181: 178: 177: 176:Sexual torts 175: 173: 170: 168: 165: 163: 160: 156: 153: 152: 151: 148: 146: 143: 138: 135: 134: 133: 130: 128: 127:Appropriation 125: 124: 123: 122: 119: 116: 115: 110: 107: 103: 100: 98: 95: 94: 93: 90: 89: 88: 87: 83: 82: 76: 72: 70: 67: 65: 62: 60: 57: 56: 55: 54: 51: 48: 47: 42: 37: 36: 33: 30: 29: 25: 21: 20: 1341: 1336: 1324:. Retrieved 1320: 1310: 1298:. Retrieved 1294: 1288: 1281: 1269:. Retrieved 1254: 1247: 1235:. Retrieved 1231: 1222: 1215: 1207: 1202: 1190:. Retrieved 1175: 1151:. Retrieved 1147: 1141: 1129:. Retrieved 1125: 1119: 1112: 1100:. Retrieved 1096: 1090: 1083: 1071:. Retrieved 1067: 1061: 1054: 1042:. Retrieved 1037: 1033: 1024: 1012:. Retrieved 1008: 1002: 995: 983:. Retrieved 967: 958: 926: 914: 908: 901: 894: 887: 881: 872: 868: 852: 834: 833: 755:Criminal law 674:Class action 539: 532: 525: 484: 468:Self-defense 386: 364:Deep pockets 298: 260:Duty of care 22:Part of the 1172:See § 120A 929:shoplifting 631:Tort reform 265:Trespassers 230:Malpractice 225:Entrustment 145:False light 1354:Categories 1326:6 November 1300:6 November 1271:6 November 1265:0314012710 1237:6 November 1192:6 November 1186:0314012710 1153:6 November 1131:6 November 1102:6 November 1073:6 November 1044:6 November 1040:: 90. 1952 1014:6 November 985:6 November 979:0314748806 951:References 843:shoplifter 839:shopkeeper 740:common law 643:Quasi-tort 595:Injunction 588:Incidental 407:Conspiracy 132:Defamation 109:Conversion 24:common law 865:Rationale 750:Contracts 690:Australia 498:Liability 458:Necessity 346:liability 270:Licensees 190:Seduction 1375:Tort law 1370:Security 939:See also 765:Property 760:Evidence 610:Replevin 578:Punitive 565:Remedies 439:Defences 373:Nuisance 344:absolute 275:Invitees 102:chattels 92:Trespass 32:Tort law 778:estates 605:Detinue 600:Tracing 583:Special 573:Damages 453:Consent 240:medical 136:Slander 64:Battery 59:Assault 41:Outline 1262:  1183:  976:  855:arrest 849:Limits 776:, and 774:trusts 738:Other 725:Taiwan 695:Canada 648:Delict 615:Trover 340:Strict 26:series 1365:Theft 1228:(PDF) 917:torts 900:Only 770:Wills 742:areas 720:Japan 715:India 700:China 653:civil 425:Fraud 235:legal 139:Libel 1328:2017 1302:2017 1273:2017 1260:ISBN 1239:2017 1194:2017 1181:ISBN 1155:2017 1133:2017 1104:2017 1075:2017 1046:2017 1016:2017 987:2017 974:ISBN 655:and 342:and 97:land 1356:: 1319:. 1293:. 1230:. 1163:^ 1146:. 1137:; 1124:. 1095:. 1066:. 1038:47 1036:. 1032:. 1007:. 772:, 1330:. 1304:. 1287:" 1275:. 1241:. 1221:" 1196:. 1157:. 1140:" 1135:. 1118:" 1106:. 1089:" 1077:. 1060:" 1048:. 1018:. 1001:" 989:. 823:e 816:t 809:v 659:) 43:) 39:(

Index

common law
Tort law
Outline
Trespass to the person
Assault
Battery
False imprisonment
Intentional infliction of emotional distress
Trespass
land
chattels
Conversion
Dignitary torts
Appropriation
Defamation
False light
Invasion of privacy
Intrusion on seclusion
Breach of confidence
Abuse of process
Malicious prosecution
Alienation of affections
Criminal conversation
Seduction
Breach of promise
Negligent torts
Negligent infliction of emotional distress
Employment-related
Entrustment
Malpractice

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