The definitions of Sections 537.125(1), (2) and (3), RSMo., shall apply to the provisions of this Article.
A. 
A person commits the offense of wrongful concealment if he/she willfully conceals unpurchased merchandise of any mercantile establishment either on the premises or outside the premises of such establishment with the intent to deprive the owner.
B. 
Definitions. As used in this Section, the following terms mean:
WILLFUL CONCEALMENT
Any wrongful taking of merchandise offered for sale or displayed by a merchant with the intent to deprive the owner.
WRONGFUL TAKING
To take, obtain, use, transfer, conceal, retain possession of.
C. 
Any merchant, his/her agent or employee, who has reasonable grounds or probable cause to believe that a person has committed or is committing a willful concealment of merchandise from a mercantile establishment, may detain such person in a reasonable manner and for a reasonable length of time for the purpose of investigating whether there has been a wrongful concealment of such merchandise. Any such reasonable detention shall not constitute an unlawful arrest or detention, nor shall it render the merchant, his/her agent or employee criminally or civilly liable to the person so detained.
D. 
Any person willfully concealing unpurchased merchandise of any mercantile establishment, either on the premises or outside the premises of such establishment, shall be presumed to have so concealed such merchandise with the intention of committing a wrongful taking of such merchandise within the meaning of Subsection (B)(1) above and the finding of such unpurchased merchandise concealed upon the person or among the belongings of such person shall be evidence of reasonable grounds and probable cause for the detention in a reasonable manner and for a reasonable length of time of such person by a merchant, his/her agent or employee in order that recovery of such merchandise may be effected and any such reasonable detention shall not be deemed to be unlawful nor render such merchant, his/her agent or employee criminally or civilly liable.
E. 
Any merchant, his/her agent or employee, who has reasonable grounds or probable cause to believe that a person has committed a wrongful taking of property as defined in this Section and who has detained such person and investigated such wrongful taking, may contact Law Enforcement Officers and instigate criminal proceedings against such person. Any such contact of law enforcement authorities or instigation of a judicial proceeding shall not constitute malicious prosecution, nor shall it render the merchant, his/her agent or employee criminally or civilly liable to the person so detained or against whom proceedings are instigated.