Vermont Statutes Title 13. Crimes and Criminal Procedure, § 2573. Definitions

(1) “Retail value” means the merchant's indicated price of the merchandise at the time of the theft.

(2) “Merchandise” means any items of tangible personal property displayed, held, stored, or offered for sale.

(3) “Merchant” means an owner or manager of any retail mercantile establishment, or any person or persons in a supervisory capacity or security officer authorized in writing by the owner or manager to make requests or detentions under this subchapter.

(4) “Premises of a retail mercantile establishment” includes the retail mercantile establishment, any common use areas in shopping centers, and all parking areas set aside by a merchant or on behalf of a merchant for the parking of vehicles for the convenience of the patrons of the retail mercantile establishment.

(5) “Reasonable force” means only that minimum amount of force necessary to detain the person who the merchant has reasonable cause to believe has committed the offense of retail theft.

(6) “Retail mercantile establishment” means any place where merchandise is displayed or offered for sale to the public, including storage areas on the premises of such an establishment.