In a recent sting, nine DeKalb businesses were caught selling tobacco products to minors.

On Oct. 17 and Oct. 24, 15 gas stations and convenience stores in DeKalb secretly were investigated as part of the DeKalb Police Department’s Tobacco Sting.

As part of the sting, teenagers who work with police went into various stores and attempted to buy tobacco products.

Of the 15 stores involved, nine sold cigarettes to the youths, said Lt. Jim Kayes.

DeKalb has a city ordinance forbidding the selling of tobacco to minors, Kayes said. Violators of this ordinance were arrested and face fines of $150 to $500.

The sting occurred after police received reports of numerous outlets selling tobacco to minors. With the consent of their parents, officers sent two teenagers, aged 16 and 17, into stores to purchase cigarettes, Kayes said.

Lucky’s, 110 Hillcrest Dr., was one of the stores caught selling to minors. Owner Previn Patel said he has since begun checking identification more thoroughly, and is making sure his employees do the same.

Walgreens Drug Store, 100 W. Lincoln Highway, was another store caught during the sting.

Michael Polzin, a Walgreens company spokesman, was surprised to find out one of his stores had sold tobacco to a minor.

“Our policy is gone over with every new employee to make sure there is no question about younger-looking people buying cigarettes,” Polzin said.

Walgreens’ advanced system for deterring minors from purchasing tobacco made the crime even stranger.

When cigarettes are scanned, the register asks the clerk to enter the birthdate of the customer if they look under 40 years of age. If that’s not done, the transaction can’t continue, Polzin said.

“I can’t speculate on why the procedure wasn’t followed,” Polzin said.

Michelle Marbutt, a manager at Ralph’s, 664 E. Lincoln Highway, was happy to hear the store policy on carding is working. Ralph’s passed through the sting without incident.

“We’re all really good at carding … we card just about anybody,” Marbutt said. “It’s important teens aren’t sold cigarettes.”

The department does plan future stings, and though the long-term effect is uncertain, Kayes does believe it helps in the short term.

Teens who smoke usually start to swing along with what’s cool, Kayes said. He adds that there are plenty of reason why teens shouldn’t take up smoking.

“Kissing a smoker is like licking the bottom of an ashtray,” he said.