[LEGAL] Has anyone body checked a receipt checker?

Submitted by 6c_6f_76_65 in Illegalism

I was reading the LP forum and people spoke about receipt checkers who would physically block their path.

I have a huge issue with my personal space being violated. If someone where to physically block my path and then not move when I demanded I would assault them. I have had people grab/touch my shoulder to get my attention and I unconsciously immediately swing on them. I have been training over the last year and I now know I would likely connect if I swing now.

I know most states have legal protection under shopkeepers privilege. If I am not lifting, someone attempts to detain me, and I assault them what legal protections do I have?

1

Comments

You must log in or register to comment.

casuallifter1 wrote

what started this shit? they must started doing this recently.

1

FreeIsForMe wrote

Walmart did away with "greeters" now they call them hosts and they seem to think they are straight up LP now.

2

casuallifter1 wrote

some let you by. some try to stop you if you try to pass them by. i domt like this. its creepy.

1

HeartlessHarpy wrote

It’s not that big of a deal, it just means you can’t conceal stuff in your shopping bags or do the self checkout scam.

You can still go through garden sections at most I think. I’m not sure if they have hosts there or not but I do remember seeing a lot of employees there now but at least they used to have them there.

1

6c_6f_76_65 OP wrote

The Walmarts by me all have greeters at every door while they are open. They even have them on third shift.

1

6c_6f_76_65 OP wrote

It has been this way around me for close to a year. In the last two months they have started scanning your receipts.

I have not run into them being pushy but I have read lots of social media with people describing varying degrees of absurdity.

1

Uwusketamine445 wrote

I guess learn how to conceal? I mean, if that’s the case we just can’t do walkouts anymore. And if you body check them you’re going to be in deep shit, like assault and burglary charges. The ones near me have been upping their game with the receipt checkers, just get a fake phone call app and pretend your friend overdosed and storm out and if they stop you act really frantic and apologetic like you just forgot the stuff was in your hands.

1

6c_6f_76_65 OP wrote

All I do are walkouts. I wait until I see someone checking out with a TV, computer, or large speaker. I then walkout on the opposite side of them. The checker is always way too busy to notice me. Ever other time I just have one item in my hand. If I need to I would just ditch the cart or run with the one item I have.

Ever time I get receipt checked is when I have paid for everything. It is frustrating when you have that one checker who wants to check every single item and the line is backed up six people deep. I would never assault someone while I was lifting. That's where my question comes in. If someone acts in a manner in which they detain me, I was physically abused in the past, I know I will react with violence.

I did call a local lawyer. The store personnel can use shopkeeper's privilege to attempt to detain someone. However, if they are wrong and the person did not have concealed merchandise they could face civil charges. The lawyer said he had to check into into the assault part. Clearly, if someone grabs a hold of me I can use 'necessary' force to free myself. If they grab a hold of my property or the cart he advised I not use unnecessary force. His definition of unnecessary force was anything that would result in breakage, dislocation of a joint, or extended nerve damage.

1

Uwusketamine445 wrote

Yeah I understand the trauma thing. If you weren’t committing a crime and you did it I’m sure you could explain it as involuntary from ptsd. I can’t tell you the amount of times I’ve flinched so hard I started crying from people getting into my personal space, if it’s anything like that you could definitely explain it. I mean people generally know it’s a symptom of trauma, I’d think at least but idk.

1

6c_6f_76_65 OP wrote

That is one of the worst feelings. I hate when people try to get my attention by touching my neck or shoulder when they are behind me.

3

sexyinaweaselkindofway wrote

I think it's dependent on each store. My closest one has like four hosts there throughout the day, but two of them are hardasses about receipt checking, with one of those two going the further anal route by looking over carts and digging through the bags visually for a stupid long minute. I usually try to go by the other two people, they let me go by even if I had concealed something within the cart beforehand. But ngl it's tempting to just keep walking if that one host tries to pull that hesitation shit again.

1

aynonymouse wrote

If you touch them they can charge you with assault. However they have no right to detain you, legally, you are free to go and you should say this to them. If they still refuse to allow you past, I would call police.

1

6c_6f_76_65 OP wrote

I heard back from the lawyer. And it is a murky as fuck answer. The merchant is covered under good faith clause unless they are operating on bias based profiling. But, one also has a right to resist a false detention.

My case would be unique because of past trauma. My state also has a stand your ground law so I am under no obligation to retreat to a wall. I can immediately use non-lethal force if I am grabbed.

The flip side is that the checker could consider their life is in danger and also use a stand your ground defense.

Thus, we could both escalate until it becomes lethal force. And in the end a jury would decide it.

1

thekraken wrote

These people have no legal right to check or detain you. Think about how this works - in theory, a customer has paid for their merchandise at the checkout before exiting the store, and therefore any attempt to actually detain you would be unlawful. You are walking out of a store with your items you paid for.

It is security theatre. I ignore them and walk past them every time, and they never do anything, because they know the legal ramifications of them stopping a legit customer are just plain not worth it.

1

Hardlyworking4 wrote (edited )

Honestly, I would just say to them " You have no legal right to detain me." Then walk around them. If they continue, or put their hands on you, get out your cell phone and call the police. I guarantee they will back off before you even get 911 dialed.

Not sure what the legal protections are ... honestly you may need to ask a lawyer. :)

0

yogobro298 wrote (edited )

You know I doubt some people would back off. Some people let the power that these small minimum wage jobs just give them go to their head and they have such a big ego too.

4

6c_6f_76_65 OP wrote

This is my fear. I tell them to back off and they double down. The shit will hit the fan for sure.

2

Hardlyworking4 wrote (edited )

Well I get that, but I"ve been in this exact situation. I walked out, even though they put their hands on me, took my purse i kept walking. Guess what happened. I did not get prosecuted and the LP was fired... for an improper stop. This was at walmart and I knew all the steps to stop a shoplifter and the LP would be fired for not following them.

I did my research. I was smart in how I dealt with it. I broke line of site. I walked away... i explained to the cop i was stopped in a subway, they put their hands on me and took my purse. Guess what? The cops didn't prosecute.

1