while waiting for a prescription for an abscessed tooth, I stepped outside to make a phone call. I had already picked up some orajel, or something, and was waiting to pay for it when my prescription was ready.

A young kid (named Rocky no less), came out and "escorted" me back to the back room, making as big a scene as possible, telling cashiers that I was shoplifting orajel.    It took an hour, and me finally having a conversation with his boss, to get this guy to let me go.  He still tried to file paperwork against me.  The good news was that my prescription was ready when I finally got out of the back room.  Still, I was embarrassed and angry.

People steal from my shop all the time.  People actually steal tips out of my server's tip jar in the Eastside window.  It is unfortunate that theft is a cost of doing business, and I'm not sure what the best solution for a locally owned grocer is, but it would behoove both Thriftways to write clearer policies for their 3rd-party contractors.

I could recount a hundred stories about their security roughing people up and really extorting people. They make you pay them $200 dollars plus the price of the item you allegedly stole. What people don't know is that if it's under $50, the cops usually won't bother with it. If I were ever in that situation, I don't shoplift so it's rare, but if I were, I'd just tell them "no", and if they tried to physically detain me I'd have them charged with unlawful imprisonment and whatever else I could pin on them. Then there'd be a civil suit.

I bet enough people have been assaulted and unlawfully detained by them to start a class action suit. Maybe you could lead that, John. I bet people would come out of the woodwork with incidents involving their security over the years.

Rick said, "Storeman's [sic] is dead to me."

Alive and well to me!  I love the micro brew selections.

..."thrifty" they are not.

The plan B thing is kind of lame. Marcie wrote a very polite letter a year or so ago and never got a response.

I like the fact that they are local and would hate to see a big corporate grocery move into Ralph's.

We buy toilet paper, english muffins and boxes of organic wine there and not much else.

I wish they'd be cooler but I'd hate to see Ralph's become Safeway, Albertsons or any other type of Mc Grocery.

Keeping in mind that I'm not a lawyer, nor a police officer. I have worked security on 2 different occasions though (both jobs were awful btw).

We were always told we could detain a subject IF we had probable cause. This would include cuffing and sitting the person down. We were allowed to ask certain questions, but by no means were we allowed to interrogate the subject. We also were not allowed to search the subject. Once detained we were required to call the police and report the situation. Once police arrived we would give the officer our story, including the probably cause for detainment. At that point, the officer would search the subject and question him, then decide to arrest or not.

I don't recall if these rules were based on state law, or internal policies. Keep in mind though, MANY security folk (in my experience) are simply "wannabe cops" who will puff out their chest and strut around at any chance they can get. Some have been completely professional and are a credit to their job, I just don't seem to meet them as often.

My suggestion, if security stops you, ask to have them immediately call the police, and do not give them the time of day. If they seek to detain you, I wouldn't fight it, unless you are somewhere that is really not public.

Experiences like the one above would make me want to call Stormans. Which I think I'm going to end up doing later today simply to ask about their security policies and how "hands-on" they allow their officers to be.

Before either the civil or the criminal penalties can be used, the retailer must first apprehend the shoplifter. If done correctly, the retailer exposes himself to little risk of false arrest suits.

State law allows you to detain a suspect if there are reasonable grounds to believe that the person shoplifted in your store. The following are the critical elements to consider before making an apprehension:

• Did you or another reliable witness see the suspect conceal merchandise or remove it from the store? Before taking action on a witness report, verify that the witness will appear in court, if necessary.

• Are you positive that the merchandise concealed or taken was store property and not the property of the suspect?

• Are you sure that the merchandise was not replaced on the shelf?

• Had the suspect possibly already paid for this merchandise?

• Was the suspected shoplifter acting in a suspicious manner?

Although the law does provide that the concealment of merchandise creates an inference of intent, and that such concealment justifies detention, other suspicious actions will reinforce your position in court. "Criminal intent" can be inferred if the suspect’s movements are evasive or furtive.

Keep the suspected shoplifter in sight from the time that merchandise is concealed until you confront the suspect. The law does not require continuous surveillance, but this policy can prevent stopping a suspect who has already disposed of the stolen items.

It is also a good idea to let the shoplifter pass the last possible point of payment or exit before detaining. Again, state law does not require this, but it can strengthen your case in court since it removes the possible defense that the suspect was going to pay for the merchandise.

There are some situations in which it would be a mistake to let the suspect exit the store. For instance, juveniles are likely to run once they are outside the store, and professional shoplifters can become dangerous when removed from a crowd of witnesses. Washington State law does not allow you to detain a suspect at any time after you have witnesses concealment of your merchandise.

Although you may be upset at discovering a shoplifter in your store, you should remain professional and calm. Treat every shoplifting suspect as a potential future customer and you will not need to fear false arrest suits. The following suggestions can be the foundation for a safe store apprehension policy.

• The initial contact with the suspect should be verbal, not physical. Catch the suspect’s attention and identify yourself with a phrase such as, "Excuse me, I am the manager of the store. I noticed that you removed (stolen item) from the shelf and did not replace it or pay for it. Would you please come to my office so that we may clear up this matter?" In the ideal situation only the suspect hears the words that you speak.

• If the suspect refuses, explain that you wish to avoid embarrassment and would prefer to discuss the matter in a private office. Do not force the suspect to accompany you. Instead try to gather information from the suspect and call the police immediately if the shoplifter continues to refuse to cooperate.

• If the suspect tries to flee, you may use reasonable force to detain. "Reasonable force" in a shoplifting incident is the amount of force, which is not likely to seriously injure the suspect. The amount of force used may escalate with the suspect’s effort to escape, but should always stop short of potentially deadly force (unless the use of deadly force is necessary to protect yourself).

• If the suspected shoplifter agrees to accompany you to your office, follow rather than lead, to make sure that this person does not have a chance to dispose of the stolen merchandise.

• When in your office, tell the suspect that you saw the concealment of the items and request that he or she gives them to you. If the person refuses, do not search. Instead, let the police make that decision. A search may be legally defensible, but runs the risk of a suit for assault or invasion of privacy if you turn out to be wrong.

• During the detainment or interrogation of a suspect, there should always be a witness present who is the same sex as the suspect. Female suspects should never be detained in private solely by a male. Thus, in some situations, you may be forced to detain the suspect in the sales area.

• When interrogating the suspect do not accuse or threaten with arrest to obtain a confession. Such tactics are unnecessary and expose you to liability.

• The law allows detention for a reasonable time, so call the police immediately. You can detain the shoplifter while giving the opportunity to make or refuse to make a statement, and while examining any employees and store records to determine who owns the merchandise in question. A Washington Appellate Court decision indicates that you may hold the suspect until the police arrive. (State v. Gonzales, 24Wn. App.437,694 P.2^d 168 (1979)

• It is your responsibility to record all facts about the incident, and if the suspect admits to wrongdoing to get a statement to that effect. An example of a shoplifting report is attached. Before using the form, check with your local police to verify that it is acceptable to them.

Taken from here