Regardless of the fact that they are teenage girls and regardless of the fact that it was a $2 lipstick, IT WAS STILL THEFT.

OMG! The horror to be embarassed and humiliated for BREAKING THE LAW! I can't imagine a worse predicament.

OK, reality check - there are signs all over Wal-Mart that say "SHOPLIFTING IS A CRIME! It is not a prank, it's not a thrill, it't not a game. It's a violation of the law and we prosecute to the fullest extent of that law, SO DON'T CHANCE IT!" (or something to that effect)

What kind of "games" did you participate in when you were "young and foolish" that you find this type of deviant behavior permissable?? I stuck to Space Invaders and Pac Man because my parents would have KILLED me if I had tried to shoplift something.

Being young or foolish is not an excuse for starting off on such a bad path at such a young age.

The protection officers were doing their job. They had no way of knowing for certain what the girls had taken, but clearly they had been watching them and knew they lifted something. They also had no way of knowing if the girls were armed, so they use the same procedures with EVERY shoplifter.

As for being hauled off to be "tortured," No, they were probably waiting for the police to arrive and the girls' parents. Believe it or not, it might have seemed "excessive" but if one of those "kids" stole your wallet, you'd probably be the first one to demand they be caned!