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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>54750</law_id><section_number>18.2-105.1</section_number><catch_line>Detention of suspected shoplifter</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="18.2">Crimes and Offenses Generally</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="5">Crimes Against Property</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="3">Larceny and Receiving Stolen Goods</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>A merchant, agent or employee of the merchant, who has <span class="dictionary">probable cause</span> to believe that a person has shoplifted in violation of &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Grand larceny defined; how punished" href="/18.2-95/">18.2-95</a> or &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Petit larceny defined; how punished" href="/18.2-96/">18.2-96</a> or &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Concealing or taking possession of merchandise; altering price tags; transferring goods from one container to another; counseling, etc., another in performance of such acts" href="/18.2-103/">18.2-103</a>, on the premises of the merchant, may <span class="dictionary">detain</span> such person for a period not to exceed one hour pending arrival of a <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer.</p></section></text><history>1976, c. 515.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
