Sting Nabs Tobacco Shop For Selling To Minors: Arlington Heights P.D.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL — An Arlington Heights business has been cited for the third-straight year for selling tobacco products to minors. Luxury Smoke and Vape Co., 1039 S. Arlington Heights Road, is prohibited from operating for 30 days, effective Monday, according to the Arlington Heights Police Department.

The business was cited for similar offenses in 2021 and 2022 after failing annual compliance checks.

Police recently opened an investigation into Luxury Smoke after receiving tips from community members. While conducting surveillance on the business, police saw minors frequenting the store on several occasions.

In all, the police department conducted four compliance checks over the course of several weeks by using special agents under the age of 21. Employees of Luxury Smoke reportedly sold tobacco products to the underage agents on three of the four occasions.

Police said in one instance, a store employee identified the agent as being under 21 after checking their state ID, but still suggested they join the store's rewards program and the sale would be completed. As a result, the store employee and the business were cited under the Village's municipal code for selling a product containing nicotine to a minor and for failing to display a regulatory sign that informs consumers sale and possession of tobacco products to anyone under 21 is prohibited by law. Separate fines were assessed for the violations.

In June, the Cook County Department of Revenue conducted an inspection of the business and cited it for failing to register as a tobacco retailer.

According to the AHPD, the public can anonymously report an establishment believed to be selling to underage persons by calling Crime Stoppers at 847-590-7867 or pass information along via email (not anonymous) to policemail@vah.com.