Minors who want alcohol just steal it
By Nancy Needham nancy@theacorn.com

A drugstore that sells liquor seems to be just the right place for conspiring teenagers to steal alcoholic beverages.

"The police have done a good job of educating parents to lock up liquor. Law enforcement has also made sure adults know they will get into trouble for buying minors alcoholic beverages. Stores have been successfully cracked down on for illegally selling alcohol to underage customers," Capt. Jerry Hernandez said.

But none of it stops minors from trying to find a way to get around the law, said the Ventura County Sheriff 's Department spokesman.

"Now what happens all the time is a group of them go into a store and create a distraction while one of them grabs a sixpack or something else and runs out the door," Hernandez said.

To help prevent the theft of liquor and other shoplifting, the CVS Pharmacy on Reino Road across the street from Newbury Park High School requires students to leave their backpacks outside the store, said supervisor Nancy Leos.

Some kids ignore the rule, knowing it's almost impossible for store clerks to enforce it, she said.

Even if they leave their backpacks outside, 10 to 20 kids will come in at once and it's hard for store employees to watch everyone. Video cameras have been a help, Leos said.

For their own personal safety, a store employee who sees someone stealing isn't allowed to try to stop the person, she said.

Employees do call police. Recently officers came after a young person absconded with a pack of beer. They found the suspect and other teens drinking the beverages across the street at Borchard Community Park, Leos said.

What teens might not realize, Hernandez said, is that although the theft of a six-pack of beer might only be a misdemeanor, if there is forceful physical contact with a clerk the consequences can go up dramatically.

"It's a real problem for them if a theft becomes a robbery. That elevates the crime way up there to a felony," Hernandez said.

Sometimes these thefts turn ugly, he said.

The placement of the liquor in a store can determine how often thefts occur. The number of employees in the store can also make a difference.

To discourage this crime of opportunity, some stores will not allow more than a few people in at a time, Hernandez said.