In North Carolina, false imprisonment is the illegal restraint of a person against his or her will. Detaining and handcuffing a customer and transporting them to some backroom without reasonable cause could be considered false imprisonment.A person is detained against his will if he is deprived of his liberty; that is, compelled to remain where he does not wish to remain, or compelled. The plaintiff in a false imprisonment action must prove that the defendant proximately caused the injuries for which the plaintiff seeks damages. Shoplifting, which is also known as misdemeanor larceny, is a crime that involves taking goods from a retail store or concealing items while still in the store. 2005), the court found that under New Hampshire law, false imprisonment is the unlawful restraint of an individual's personal freedom. If you have been charged with shoplifting as a misdemeanor or felony in Charlotte, it would be a big mistake not to take the charges seriously. Theft crimes are a serious matter. Contact the Cornelius, NC shoplifting lawyers at king law to secure representation today. North Carolina divides shoplifting into two broad categories.