SCV Sheriff’s deputies, detectives target underage vaping, tobacco use in the Santa Clarita Valley. An enforcement operation was conducted Wednesday by J-team and COPS Bureau deputies, assisted by school resource officers and city code enforcement.
On Wednesday, Sergeant Tim Vander Leek said deputies set up the operation after receiving concerning calls from the community.
“Parents reached out to us,” said J-Team Detective Bill Velek. “They expressed concerns that local vape shops were selling to underage kids. They were finding items in their kids’ backpacks.”
Vander Leek said this was the first time deputies set up an enforcement operation targeting vape shops in the Santa Clarita Valley.
Three of the five vape shops investigated in Santa Clarita Valley had employees cited by deputies for allegedly selling vaping products to minors illegally.
The workers accusing of selling the products to minors were employed at vape shops located at the following addresses:
– A vape shop located on the 26900 block The Old Road, Stevenson Ranch had (1) citation issued.
– A vape shop located on the 26800 block Bouquet Canyon Road, Saugus had (2) citations issued.
– A vape shop located on the 25800 block of Railroad Avenue in Saugus had (2) citations issued.
Businesses in California which are licensed to sell tobacco and/or nicotine alternative products are required by ordinance to sell only to people age 21 or older, except military personnel with an identification card.
“In some cases, the packaging of vaping products is made to look very appealing to kids,” said Detective Velek. “They look like juice boxes, or candy. We are also out there in the community educating on the potential dangers of vaping. It’s becoming more popular among kids. It’s not harmless fun.”
You can anonymously report illegal selling of vaping products within the Santa Clarita Valley to LA CrimeStoppers. Your information may help deputies identify possible violations of the laws in future enforcement operations. You can call CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or use the website www.lacrimestoppers.org.
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2 Comments
Just another reason to close those shops down. If you’re going to smoke be a man and light up a cigarette. No but honestly vaping is lame and smoking is stupid .
The reporting is appreciated, but I’m wondering why, when these businesses are busted by local sheriffs, the names are not given out? Same thing for the recent massage parlor busts. I’m guessing it’s public record…is there some reason why they’re omitted?