The parents or legal guardian of a minor who commits the offense of retail theft, as herein defined, shall be civilly liable for the full retail value or cost of repair or cost of replacement of the merchandise and actual damages not to exceed the limitations provided by § 5 of the Parental Responsibility Law (Ill. Rev. Stat. Ch. 70, § 55). A conviction or plea of guilty of the retail theft is not a prerequisite to the bringing, of a civil suit hereunder. Recovery under this section may be had in addition to, and is not limited by, any other provision of law which limits the liability of a parent or legal guardian for tortuous conduct of a minor.
(Prior Code, § 47-6.32)