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(THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) The counterfeit bill shown was used to make a purchase in Graham this week. Looking into the sunlight with the $100 bill shows Alexander Hamilton, which is only present on $10 bills. -
(GPD | CONTRIBUTED PHOTO) A photo of a suspect who used a counterfeit $100 bill to make a purchase at a Graham downtown business this week. Graham Police Department have opened a case and are seeking any information about the suspect. -
(THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) A sign displayed on the front door of The Graham Leader office at 620 Oak St. in Graham stating the business is not accepting $50 or $100 bills. The sign was placed due to recent cases of counterfeit bills being used at downtown businesses.
A Graham Police Department investigation has been opened regarding a number of stores in Graham where counterfeit $100 bills were used this week.
Boaz on the Square, Here & Now Boutique and Everette’s Jewelers are among some of the stores in downtown Graham that recently had counterfeit currency used.
GPD officers responded Tuesday, Nov. 19 to the 500 block of Elm Street in reference to three businesses around the square receiving counterfeit $100 bills for purchases made.
“Each business owner reported that a Hispanic male and female entered their respective business, at different times, and purchased items from the business,” GPD Chief Brent Bullock said in a release. “At each location, the two paid for the merchandise with a $100 bill. The male and female then left the business. Once it was realized that the $100 bill was counterfeit, the male and female had already left the area. One business was able to capture the male on store security video.”
Later the same day, officers were dispatched downtown again for the same circumstances where a male and female drove off in a black sedan heading toward Hwy. 67 on Fourth Street.
“In the past years, this type of offense has happened to mostly small businesses ‘mom and pop businesses’ in our area. It appears that larger or ‘chain’ type businesses are not targeted as much,” Bullock said.
Owner of Here & Now Boutique, Sydney Hughes, said her store was one of those that were hit by the individuals this week.
“They picked up literally everything and checked the prices on it so I was a little suspicious to begin with. They found probably one of the cheapest things they could find for $10, came to check out and handed over cash,” Hughes said. “The second I touched it I knew it was either fake, bleached or something was off. It was a guy and a girl and I didn’t feel comfortable checking it with the counterfeit pen, which it (later) passed with the counterfeit pen.”
Hughes called the Graham Police Department non-emergency line and attempted to obtain the license plate number, but the two individuals quickly left upon seeing her exit the business.
Downtown businesses have banded together to raise awareness and warn the community to stay vigilant.
“We usually do this anyway if any of us get hit with shoplifters,” Hughes said “…Usually when people shoplift heavily they just hit one spot and keep moving.”
To report any information about the suspects in this, call GPD Lt. Detective Jeff Smith at 940-549-6441. Bullock said businesses can call the department for patrons they are concerned about and have the department stop by and check out the situation.
“All businesses can protect themselves by installing security cameras that record the daily operations of the business. We ask businesses to have a recording system that records to a hard drive or to a cloud of some type so the recording can be transferred to police for evidence,” he said. “Most businesses have or use pens that can identify possible counterfeit bills. There is nothing wrong with marking bills to check for counterfeits to safeguard your business.”
