Shoplifting, Larceny, Robbery, Theft DO you have a LEGAL obligation to stop for a LP officer?

[lawman1111111]

My question is simple. Do you (anyone) have the LEGAL obligation to stop for a LP officer? They do not have police powers and can only ask you to come with them.

If they are not Police Officers working as LP for the store, do you HAVE to stop for them if they ask you to?

 

[CdwJava]

No, not usually. However, if you struggle with them you could be charged with additional or more serious offenses.

 

[army judge]

My question is simple. Do you (anyone) have the LEGAL obligation to stop for a LP officer? They do not have police powers and can only ask you to come with them.

If they are not Police Officers working as LP for the store, do you HAVE to stop for them if they ask you to?

No, you don't have to stop, if requested to do so by anyone that isn't a sworn, law enforcement officer (local, county, school, state, or federal).

However, you can run the risk of some very uncomfortable circumstances, should you decide to defy a merchant's security officer or loss prevention personnel.

Powers of arrest in NJ:

http://law.onecle.com/new-jersey/2a-administration-of-civil-and-criminal-justice/154-3.html

However, here is the law (in YOUR state NJ) regarding a merchant's ability to question suspected thieves:

The law in NJ does not give the power to arrest, or any police powers to private security personnel; other than as mentioned below:

http://www.shopliftingprevention.org/shoplifting-laws/new-jersey-shoplifting-laws.html

Any citizen attempting to effect an arrest, without the authority of color of a sworn law enforcement officer present acts at great peril to himself or herself.

http://criminal.findlaw.com/criminal-procedure/citizen-s-arrest.html

An article explaining POLICE OFFICERS to others, such as CONSTABLES in NJ:

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/08/whats_in_a_name_constables_are.html

E. A law enforcement officer, or a special officer, or a merchant, who has probable cause for believing that a person has willfully concealed unpurchased merchandise and that he can recover the merchandise by taking the person into custody, may, for the purpose of attempting to effect recovery thereof, take the person into custody and detain him in a reasonable manner for not more than a reasonable time, and the taking into custody by a law enforcement officer or special officer or merchant shall not render such person criminally or civilly liable in any manner or to any extent whatsoever.

Any law enforcement officer may arrest without warrant any person he has probable cause for believing has committed the offense of shoplifting as defined in section A.
A merchant who causes the arrest of a person for shoplifting, as provided for in this section, shall not be criminally or civilly liable in any manner or to any extent whatsoever where the merchant has probable cause for believing that the person arrested committed the offense of shoplifting.​

As underlined above, MERCHANT is also the AGENT of said merchant (usually people employed in Loss Prevention.