Skip to main content

Rudy's Daughter Caroline Giuliani Arrested for Shoplifting

By Jason Beahm on August 05, 2010 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

Rudy Giuliani made his name in New York City by being tough on crime. One can only wonder how he reacted to the news that his 20-year-old daughter was caught stealing cosmetics from Sephora.

Rudy Giuliani's daughter, Caroline Giuliani, a Harvard student, was arrested Wednesday after employees at the 86th Street Sephora allegedly saw her putting makeup products into her coat pocket. The police say she took five items valued at a total of about $100, which was allegedly captured on video. She was taken into custody at a police station in the 19th Precinct and issued a ticket for petit larceny, a misdemeanor, around 2:30 p.m.

The story happens to serve as a beautiful example of a legal principle known as shopkeeper's privilege. As we recently wrote, many states have "shopkeeper's privilege laws," which authorize stores to hold suspected shoplifters until police arrive. Shopkeeper's privilege laws protect businesses from lawsuits claiming false imprisonment or false arrest as long as the detention is considered reasonable.

Sephora applied shopkeeper's privilege in a manner straight out of a textbook in this case. According to The New York Times, after a salesperson and store security allegedly saw Caroline Giuliani shoplifting, they called 911 and held Giuliani in a back room of the store until the officers arrived. Once the police arrived, they arrested Giuliani based on the evidence provided by the employees. However, after Caroline Giuliani's identity became known, the store's management informed police they did not wish to press charges. As of Wednesday night, charges had not been filed, The New York Times Reports.

Related Resources:

Copied to clipboard