Here is the skinny.
I don’t know why you keep insisting about something that is pretty well much defined and searchable for sources on the internet.
First off, shoplifting is governed by State Laws, so they vary from state to state, however there are common themes. One being you cannot detain anybody without reasonable suspicion, which means ‘witnessed’, or you’ve triggered electronic sensors.
Once you have reasonable cause, you may detain for a reasonable amount of time and restraint. As you wait on the police.
You can (and almost always will by trained personal) be asked to present a receipt for items you are leaving the store with. Failing to produce a receipt may lead to reasonable suspicion. At the least, expect store security to ask for the merchandise.
But all this is not definitive because it goes by State by State unless the items in question are above ‘petty theft’ levels. I cannot be definitive, you cannot be definitive, we can only talk state by state, so stop trying to be authoritative and definitive.
Above and beyond that, there are ample ‘case law’ established. Go read some.
Re-read my post #114 and read my post #116 for detail....
It outlines a general case on state law and the general premis...noting it varies by state...
Not producing a receipt or refusal to search your bags has never viewed by the courts as reasonable suspicion....
Having reviewed case law in this area, I’m quite familiar.
You still haven’t made a point yet but at minimum you appear to understand some of the basic limitations of what the store can and cannot do during a security check.
The unwarranted search at the door is voluntary, not mandatory. They ask, and the majority comply without question.
You appear to fall into that group; then once I challenge your belief, become defensive.
If you refuse to the search, are you arrested? Detained? Have your ID checked? Not without cause and refusing to let them search your bag is not cause.
We don’t extend that kind of authority to real Law Enforcement.
Get pulled over for a traffic ticket, the cop may ask you if he can search the car, you have the right to say no and unless he arrests you for cause or obtains a warrant (varies by state) your car won’t be searched.
These same rights extend to you person (lots of case law here) albiet the Supremes and lower courts allow certain search after arrest for the protection of the officer.
Don’t forget, LEOs have legal protection from being sued individually for their action (limitations apply). This does not extend to store personel nor the store.
For their protection, as you correctly stated, they must directly observe the theft. If they don’t but have a highly suspicious individual, they will employ a variety of techniques to cause them to drop and run. Equally useful, they may confront the “shopper” and question them (but not detain them). Many of “shoppers” will give up when confronted.....some just run...
But in the end, it is your “right” to refuse a search of you or your possessions without a legally obtained warrant executed by a certified LEO. The store has no legal standing in this area, only voluntary compliance by it’s shoppers....