METH-WATCH PROGRAM ASKS STORES TO KEEP EYE ON SALES

LUCEDALE - District Attorney Keith Miller wants store owners in George,
Jackson and Greene counties to watch for people buying large amounts of
batteries, lighter fluid, matchbooks, Pseudofed or coffee filters.

Then, Miller wants those store owners to report the shoppers to his office.

Miller kicked off his Meth-Watch Program on Friday. The purpose is to make
it difficult for manufacturers of methamphetamine to get their hands on the
everyday items needed for making the drug.

Miller and his staff spent the day placing signs on storefronts, in
shopping aisles and cash registers warning customers that anyone purchasing
large amounts of items used in manufacturing meth could be reported to
authorities.

Miller said Assistant District Attorney Dustin Thomas had seen a similar
program operated in Kansas.

"I thought it was an innovative idea, so we modified it a little bit and
put it in place," Miller said.

He said Meth-Watch teaches employees to be aware of suspicious amounts of
certain items being purchased or stolen and the store can make out a report
that is given to drug enforcement authorities.

The signs are put in places ranging from small gas stations and feed stores
to large retail outlets. Store owners like the idea, Miller said. Howard
Real, manager of a Lucedale supplies store said: "If a fella is buying 10
packs of cold medicine, he's either on his death bed or he's making that
crank. I hope (the program) scares them all from buying anything."

Miller said meth lab operators usually go from store to store buying
separate items from each on a repeated basis. Employees are also asked to
watch for such trends.

Miller said he is asking merchants to place all the items together in one
spot which would be surrounded by the signs to increase visibility and
deter questionable purchases.