Loss prevention officers can detain people I believe LPDON would be the one to ask about this, but security is just there to assist and create a presence as they have no authority to do anything but be visible.

Like I said before, one of my out-laws is a store manager for a large retail outlet and they won't let them detain if people want to keep walking. They are advised to remember personal details, get vehicle descriptions and plates, accomplices, direction they departed, times, dates, all that, but unless they comply with you when "asked" to, they have to let them go if the police aren't there by then.

They also "ask" for the merchandise that was taken, but can't demand it either

He had an incident where a guy grabbed a lawnmower from the front of the store, pushed it inside and asked for a refund.

No receipt so they refused to give him cash back, delayed as long as possible waiting for police to arrive (2 hours later), but had to issue a store credit for the amount on a card. The ID given was fake of course, but they had transaction details from the "card" issue. Still, the guy was never caught as the card was "used" before police ever arrived, because it was NOT considered an emergency.

A quick $500 and change for this guy, even though they had video! Can't say that's how it works everywhere, but all they could do was watch the guy collect and leave, and give details when the police finally arrived.

Your tax dollars and legislative branch at work! PHUCKED UP!