Vermont § 2576 - Detention

§ 2576. Detention

• (a) Any merchant who has reasonable cause to believe that a person has committed or attempted
  to commit retail theft may detain the person on or in the immediate vicinity of the
  premises of a retail mercantile establishment, affording the person the opportunity
  to be detained in a place out of public view if available, in a reasonable manner
  that may include the use of reasonable force and for a reasonable length of time for
  any of the following purposes: (1) to request and verify identification; (2) to make reasonable inquiry as to whether the person has in his or her possession unpurchased
  merchandise and, if unpurchased, to recover the merchandise; (3) to inform a law enforcement officer of the detention of the person and surrender that
  person to the custody of a law enforcement officer; and (4) in the case of a minor, to inform a law enforcement officer, and, if known or determined,
  the parent or parents, guardian, or other person having supervision of the minor of
  his or her detention and to surrender custody of the minor to the law enforcement
  officer, parent, guardian, or other person. (b) Any person detained under subdivision (a)(3) or (4) of this section shall, if a telephone
  is available, have the right to make one local telephone call of reasonable duration.
  The merchant shall advise the person detained of this right. (Added 1977, No. 227 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. April 17, 1978.)