NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Cutting down juvenile crime is one of the priorities of Metro leaders, and they see cracking down on truancy as a key to the problem.

Video: Metro Police Conduct Truancy Sweep

Police officers are stepping up their efforts to catch students skipping school to stop any chance they may break the law.

Channel 4 News followed along with Hermitage police officers on a truancy sting Thursday.

Near lunchtime, police spotted some students from McGavock High School who looked as though they were trying to sneak out to get a snack. Police caught them quickly and issued them a citation.

Students younger than the age of 18 are supposed to be in school during the day, but if they're not, they get picked up in stings like Thursday’s.

A little earlier this spring, police said, some students from Antioch skipped class and are accused of breaking into a home.

During the stings, police have found illegal items on some students.

"We've recovered weapons. We've recovered drugs of all sorts, stolen cars," said Russell Ward of Metro Police.

Once a week, officers sit and wait outside other high schools in Nashville, watching and waiting for the students to leave.

While police admit that not all of the students they catch are about to commit crimes, they said they are doing a proactive job instead of a reactive one.

Fifteen McGavock students were charged with loitering in Thursday's sting. They were returned to school or released to their parents after they were cited.