NATCHEZ &8212; There are simple steps local businesses can take to avoid being the victim of forgery and counterfeit crimes, Natchez Police Investigator Gary Nations said.

An ID suspected forger Sandra Albright &8212; who was arrested in Natchez last week &8212; allegedly carried in her wallet was clearly fake once it was removed from the wallet, Nations said.

But all too often cashiers don&8217;t ask patrons to remove their IDs from their wallets, he said.

Businesses should also pay close attention to what checks they accept.

&8220;The only thing stores can do is change their check cashing policy,&8221; Nations said. &8220;They try to make it easy on the customer, and that&8217;s fine, but they need to protect themselves.&8221;

Stores that want to cash checks like a bank would should ask to see a photo ID and make a positive comparison. Purchasing a fingerprint pad and asking check writers to put their fingerprint on their check is another good idea, Nations said. If there&8217;s a problem down the line, law enforcement officers can enter the fingerprint into a database and find the real identity of the person.

Nations also offers and occasional class at the police station for business owners interested in more specific counterfeit information. No class is scheduled in the coming weeks, but interested parties can contact NPD for future classes.