梅西雇員隻能摸武器，不能擅自在顧客身上搜索商品。

梅西的錯誤在於，將嫌犯顧客請入辦公室後，他們僅僅能夠將顧客上下摸一邊以防武器，而不是馬上搜身尋找失竊商品（翻領子）。

除非顧客同意搜身，即使警察在逮捕前也不能搜。逮捕後，進監獄前要全身裸體搜的。這些搜查原則每個警察都有培訓。商店職工不專業，被索賠沒有什麽可憐的。美國社會不允許任何人（包括警察）隨意搜別人的身體，這是人的基本尊嚴。

Shoplifter Processing

Once you make it to a private office ... One of the first steps is to make sure the setting is safe and the shoplifter is not carrying accessible weapons. This is accomplished by a simple external pat down, or by separating handbags, packages, and other containers from the immediate grasp of the shoplifter. A pat down is not a license for a search and should be conducted by a person of the same sex. Searching pockets and handbags might be illegal in your state, so leave that job for the police upon arrest.