Re: Retail stores checking purchase receipts

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The way I see it is this. If indeed the 4th amendment does
not protect us, because it was designed to prevent
government officials from illeagally searching you, and if
at the time of purchase you close the deal by paying for the
item then, you own the item and are not required to show
your products to anyone government or not, unless of course
you are suspect of theft or something similar.

With regard to illeagal searches by the door people. Their
actions can be considered burglery, umong other things. So,
what do you do? Go through the door and don't stop.
Thats what I do, or have done in the past. I actually don't
shop at any of those stores anymore.

On 6/20/00, Steve wrote:
> I am working on a freelance story idea on the subject of a
> certain practice many retail stores use for loss
prevention.
> I am speaking of checking a customer's purchase at the
exit
> to be certain the items have been paid for.
>
> I have seen some discussion in various online forums about
> the legality of this practice. Some claim that because we
> are talking about private citizens as security personnel,
> the 4th amendment protection against illegal search does
not
> apply.
>
> Others claim that, because ownership of the merchandise is
> transferred as soon as the customer enters into
a "contract
> for purchase" of the goods, the security person is asking
to
> search personal property and has no right to do so without
> probable cause, if at all.
>
> Any clarification of this question would serve to help me
> decide if there is a story here or not.
>
> Thanks!