in regards to your original post about a manager "hearing" that you shoplifted...
It's illegal for them to unlawfully detain you, and if they do and you are found innocent, you're looking at a nice little lawsuit. At my store, i'll catch kids (and adults, too) stealing stuff...the only thing i'm allowed to do is confront them. If i accuse them or suggest that they were stealing, they (the store i work for) can write me up and/or fire me. The same goes for a manager in regards to "watching" somebody steal.
However, our loss prevention guy sometimes asks for our help catching a thief...and when Loss Prevention is involved, then i'm clear of liability. You'd better believe that once the perp walks out the door, we (without physical use) carefully escort him back into the building and into the LP office where he is legally detained while the police show. I see it happen probably twice a week during my shift.
-=bmacd=-