So many shoplifters (or accused SLs) rant and rave about the unfairness of the situation where stores slap the SL with at $250-$500 civil demand after stopping the SL. The concept is that both the state legislature and the courts assist stores in paying for the cost of the store need to protect its merchandise from theives. In common law, it starts with the "shopkeepers privilege" and in statute, states allow shopkeepers to stop and detain persons they store reasonably believes have stolen, or attempted to steal, their merchandise. A shopkeeper need not stand by idly

