Police conduct tobacco compliance checks

The Albert Lea Police Department, in conjunction with the Minnesota Department of Health, on Tuesday conducted an educational tobacco compliance check of area retailers.

The checks were funded through a grant from the Minnesota Department of Health with the purpose being to educate retailers on the best practices for tobacco sales. These tobacco checks were conducted in an effort to make sure retailers are asking for and verifying the age of the purchasers of tobacco products.

The city of Albert Lea recently enacted the tobacco 21 ordinance, which requires people purchasing tobacco in the city to be 21 or older.

Of the 27 checks that were conducted, three retailers failed the compliance check by selling tobacco products to underage people.

These retailers were educated about the best practices for selling tobacco products, and no citations were issued.

 

Thefts reported

Four flower pots were reported stolen out of Oak Lawn Cemetery near Emmons at 2:53 p.m. Wednesday.

 

Fraudulent activity reported

A counterfeit $50 bill was reported at 10:15 a.m. Wednesday at 416 Bridge Ave. The bill had been turned in June 7.

Fraudulent checks were reported at 12:59 p.m. Wednesday at 122 E. Main St.

A debit card of an Albert Lea resident was reported used fraudulently in the Twin Cities on Tuesday, according to reports.

 

Damage reported

About $200 in damage was reported at 2:09 p.m. Wednesday at 900 Hammer Road.

A window was reported broken at 7:12 p.m. Wednesday at 602 Pillsbury Ave.

 

Juvenile cited

A juvenile male was cited for obstruction after police received a report of a fight at 5:31 p.m. Wednesday at 1000 E. Hawthorne St.