[rdtwo]

Why not threaten? I know where I live there is zero chance police will actually recover the property but I suppose some percent of the time the other person might not know that.

[mlyle]

Because it's legally extortion. There have been a number of times where:

A. Business owner discovers an employee has stolen property.

B. Business owner demands return of the property or the owner will notify police.

C. Employee pays, and business owner is charged with extortion or is found civilly liable for extortion.

[vorpalhex]

Can you cite some of these cases?