Police in Nassau County?s 1st Precinct went on a sting operation Friday night to catch bodega owners who sell alcohol and cigarettes to minors.

News 12 Long Island rode along with the officers as their teenage volunteers tried to buy the items. Nassau police inspector Rick Capeci says cops targeted specific shops they had problems with in the past.

Capeci also says such a sting would be impossible without the help of the teenage volunteers. One volunteer, who refused to give her name or show her face on camera, says she feels like she is on a mission to keep kids her age safe.

During the sting, cops uncovered some other violations as well. They also discovered illegal apartments in the back of a Baldwin bodega. Officer Glen Neuman says officers go out on stings with fire marshal and building inspectors because the store owners often have building violations.

Police arrested at least three individuals for unlawfully dealing with children and issued numerous citations Friday night.