Falsely Accused Of Stealing
FLORIDA
My wife and mother-in-law were in a large retail store today, they had 2 carts loaded to the top. As they were in line to pay a manager and 2 employees advised them they couldn't proceed till my wife emptied her purse, naturaly they asked why, and they were told they were seen "stuffing something inside". My mother-in-law refused but my wife opened the purse and showed them. There was a large crowd at the registers now and my 4 yr old began to cry, my family was so embarrassed they walked out with out the items they were planning on purchasing. I called the manager immediately and she wasn't appologetic at all, wouldn't give me the regional managers name or number. Is there anything we can do? What is the law on this, are they not allowed to confront you unless you are outside?
Re: falsely accused of stealing
Here's the part from the Florida law that pertains.
(a) A merchant, merchant's employee, farmer, or a transit agency's employee or agent who takes a person into custody, as provided in subsection (3), or who causes an arrest, as provided in subsection (4), of a person for retail theft, farm theft, transit fare evasion, or trespass shall not be criminally or civilly liable for false arrest or false imprisonment when the merchant, merchant's employee, farmer, or a transit agency's employee or agent has probable cause to believe that the person committed retail theft, farm theft, transit fare evasion, or trespass.
No, it is not required that you leave the store.