Theft of merchandise.

Existing law makes petty theft involving merchandise taken from a merchant's premises punishable by a fine of not less than $50 and not more than $1,000, and imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding 6 months. This bill would provide that nothing in that section or any other law precludes a merchant from offering a person suspected of theft an opportunity to complete a precomplaint diversion program in lieu of arrest and criminal prosecution, or informing a person suspected of theft of the criminal civil remedies available to the merchant.