Shoplifting
La. C.Cr.P. art. 215 — a merchant may hold a suspected shoplifter for questioning for up to 60 minutes
Shoplifting is charged as theft. Intent to keep goods held for sale may be inferred from concealing them, switching or removing price tags, moving goods into another container to avoid detection, or making the register show less than the real price.
Sixty minutes. A peace officer, a merchant, or an authorized employee may use reasonable force to detain a person on the premises for questioning, for no more than 60 minutes unless longer is reasonable, on reasonable cause to believe the person stole goods held for sale.
- A peace officer may arrest without a warrant on reasonable grounds, and a merchant's complaint is reasonable cause.
- A large merchant may offer a theft prevention program instead of reporting to police, and the program may charge up to $500.
- Assaulting a store employee during a theft means at least fifteen days served without probation.
Sources for this section (2)
- La. R.S. 14:67 — Theft
- La. C.Cr.P. art. 215 — Detention and arrest of shoplifters
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Louisiana attorney.