326                                 Laws of Maryland                        [Ch. 269

Shoplifting
551A.

(a)    In any mercantile establishment, it is unlawful for any per-
son

(1)    To remove any goods, wares or merchandise from the im-
mediate place of display or from any other place within the establish-
ment with the intent to appropriate the same to the use of the person
so taking, or to deprive the owner of the use, or value, or any part
thereof; or

(2)    To obtain or attempt to obtain possession of any goods,
wares or merchandise, by charging the same to a real person with-
out the authority of such person, or to a fictitious person, with a
like intent; or,

(3)    To conceal any such goods, wares or merchandise with a
like intent; or,

(4) To alter, remove, or otherwise disfigure any label or price
tag with a like intent; or,

(5) To transfer any goods, wares or merchandise from a con-
tainer in which the same shall be displayed or packaged to any other
container with a like intent; and any person committing any of the
acts mentioned is guilty of shoplifting.

(b)    Any person who aids or abets in the commission of any of
the acts set out in sub-section (a) is guilty of shoplifting.

(c) Possession of any goods, wares or merchandise by any person
in any mercantile establishment which

(1) Have been removed from the place of display or other place
within the establishment and concealed on or about the person of any
such person; or,

(2) Have any label or price tag altered by the person in whose

posseession they are found; or,

(3) Have been transferred from the container in which they were
displayed or packaged to any other container; , BY THE PERSON
IN WHOSE POSSESSION THEY ARE FOUND;

(4) Have been obtained by charging the same to a real person
without the authority of such person or to a fictitious person;

shall be deemed prima facie evidence of an intent, on the part of the

person in whose possession they are found, to appropriate the goods,

wares or merchandise to his use, and to deprive the owner of the

possession, use, or the value or a part thereof.

(d) A peace officer, upon a charge being made, and without a
warrant; may arrest any person whom he has reasonable cause to
believe has committed or attempted to commit the crime of shoplift-
ing, as heretofore defined, in any mercantile establishment.

(e) Reasonable cause shall be a defense to a civil or criminal
action brought for false arrest, false imprisonment, or wrongful de-