Funny Money and stupid kids

ACT Policing is urging the community to be on the lookout for counterfeit $50 notes after police were called to a shop in Civic and Dickson yesterday (Tuesday, January 29).

Around 6.20pm, four teenage boys entered a convenience store in Civic and exchanged the counterfeit $50 note for change. The unsuspecting owner exchanged the note before determining that the note was counterfeit. The boys fled the store when challenged by the owner.

A short time later, three of the teenagers entered a supermarket in Dickson and attempted to exchange a counterfeit $50 note. The owner identified the note as counterfeit and refused the request.

North District Superintendent Brett Kidner said that while counterfeit money isn’t common in the ACT, store employees should be on the lookout.

“If you’re a store employee, take the time to look at the note before handing back change or putting it in the cash register,” Superintendent Kidner said.

“At the end of the day, if you’re not satisfied that the note is legitimate then don’t accept it. When a $50 note is held to light, a seven-pointed star within a circle is formed by four points on one side of the banknote, combining perfectly with three points on the other side.”

The three boys who entered the Dickson supermarket are described as around 16 to 18 years of age, and of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander appearance. At the time, one teenager was wearing a white ‘hoodie’, dark-coloured tracksuit pants and had a black backpack on his back.

The second teenager was wearing a dark grey T-shirt, with a motif on the front, and blue-coloured pants. The third teenager was wearing a white T-shirt with a black motif on the front, blue pants and had a black backpack on his back.

ACT Policing is urging any witnesses who may have seen the teenagers described around Dickson or Civic or knows the identity of the teenagers to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or online at www.act.crimestoppers.com.au

[Courtesy ACT Policing]