South Carolina · South Carolina Code — Title 16, Crimes; Title 44 Controlled Substances
S.C. Code (Crimes) § 16-13-140: Defense to action for delay to investigate ownership of merchandise
What this law says, in plain English
A merchant may delay a customer on premises to investigate merchandise ownership if the delay is reasonable and reasonable cause exists to believe the person committed shoplifting. This statute provides a legal defense in civil lawsuits against merchants for such delays.
Facing this? Know exactly what happens next.
MOFRD turns this code section into your situation: the deadlines that apply to you, the forms your county uses, and the resolution paths people in your position actually take. Free for 3 days — no card required.
This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.