KP-0419
Ken Paxton
Summary
The shopkeeper’s privilege in section 124.001 of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code authorizes a merchant to detain a person suspected of shoplifting to investigate ownership of the property. While that statute does not supply authority for a merchant to offer a theft deterrent course in lieu of referral to law enforcement for arrest and prosecution, we find no other Texas law that specifically prohibits such a practice.