WHEN A PERSON IS APPREHENDED FOR SHOPLIFTING, THE LAST THING THAT A STORE WANTS IS FOR THAT PERSON TO BE ALLOWED BACK IN THE STORE. STORES ARE PRIVATE PROPERTY AND THEREFOR RESERVE THE RIGHT TO ASK A CUSTOMER TO LEAVE THAT PROPERTY AND NOT RETURN. THE IMPORTANT THING TO KNOW IS THAT THERE MUST BE REASONABLE GROUNDS TO ASK THAT PERSON TO LEAVE. IF THERE ARE NO GROUNDS TO ORDER THAT PERSON OUT OF THE STORE (SUCH AS MAKING A SCENE, FIGHTING, SHOPLIFTING, PAN HANDLING, ETC.) THEN THAT PERSON COULD CLAIM THAT THEY ARE BEING SINGLED OUT DUE TO ETHNIC BACKGROUND OR SOME OTHER STEREOTYPE. EVEN IF THIS IS NOT THE REASON FOR THE TRESPASS, THE MERCHANT WILL HAVE TO GIVE A VALID REASON AS TO WHY THE TRESPASS WAS DELIVERED IN ORDER TO PROTECT THEMSELVES. I HAVE DELIVERED ORDERS OF TRESPASS MANY, MANY TIMES THROUGHOUT MY JOB IN SECURITY. I HAVE THROWN OUT PEOPLE FOR FIGHTING, DISTURBING THE PEACE, PUBLIC INTOXICATION, PROSTITUTION, SHOPLIFTING, BEGGING FOR MONEY, LIQUOR LAW VIOLATIONS AND MANY OTHER REASONS. IF YOU WANT SOMEBODY TO STAY OUT OF THE STORE, YOU MUST VERBALLY TELL THEM THAT THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE STORE ANY MORE AND IF THEY SHOW UP, YOU WILL HAVE THEM ARRESTED FOR CRIMINAL TRESPASS. ONCE THEY ARE WARNED, THAT IS IT. IT'S ALSO A GOOD IDEA TO KEEP DOCUMENTATION AND IF POSSIBLE, A PHOTOGRAPH, SO THAT YOU CAN PROVE THAT THEY WERE WARNED TO STAY OUT OF THE STORE SHOULD THERE EVER BE QUESTION OF THIS. ALMOST ALL COMPANIES MAKE IT A PART OF PROCESSING A SHOPLIFTER TO ORDER THEM OUT OF THE STORE OR COMPANY. IN MY DEPARTMENT, ALL SHOPLIFTERS ARE TRESPASSED EVEN IF THEY DON'T GO TO JAIL. TELLING A PERSON TO STAY OUT OF THE STORE IS OFTEN TIMES ONE OF THE EASIEST TOOLS AT A MERCHANT'S OR SECURITY OFFICER'S DISPOSAL. SOME COMPANIES THAT I HAVE WORKED FOR ACTUALLY HAVE SHOPLIFTERS SIGN A STATEMENT THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THEY ARE NEVER ALLOWED ON COMPANY OWNED OR LEASED PROPERTY. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL OCCURRENCES THAT I HAVE CAUGHT SHOPLIFTERS IN THE STORE AND THEN TACKED ON AN EXTRA CRIMINAL TRESPASS CHARGE FOR VIOLATING A TRESPASS ORDER. WE KEEP A FILING SYSTEM OF ALL OF THE SHOPLIFTERS EVER CAUGHT AND THEREFOR IT IS QUITE EASY TO IDENTIFY PREVIOUS OFFENDERS AND TACK ON THE EXTRA CHARGE.
