Can a business prosecute on behalf of its customers?

[dagonell]

Say you've got a purse snatcher working in front of a restaurant.  The victims are tourists and don't want to press charges because they can't come back to testify or some other reason.  Can the restaurant press charges because he's driving away their business?

Comments

[marycatelli]

Depends on what the prosecutor decides. If the restauranteur or his staff can testify, there may be a case even without the victims.

"Driving away their business" is not a relevant issue. They aren't bringing a civil suit if pressing charges is what is at hand.