Shops warned over spate of fake bank notes
Police want to speak to this man and woman who each handed over fake �20 notes at Kiosk News in Leigh Park on separate occasions. Officers say they are not necessarily suspects
BUSINESSES are warned to look out for fake bank notes following a spate of counterfeit cash being handed over.
Police say Iceland stores in Market Parade, Havant, Wellington Way, Waterlooville and at the Greywell Shopping Centre in Leigh Park have all been targeted in the past week.
In each case, a man has tried to pay for goods using a fake £20 note.
On each occasion staff have spotted the counterfeit cash, kept hold of it, and the man has left the store.
It is not known whether the incidents are linked.
It comes as police release CCTV images of two people they want to speak to about the use of fake £20 notes in two other incidents in Leigh Park.
The notes were spotted by staff at Kiosk News at the Greywell Shopping Centre last year.
A woman with a young child in a pushchair tried to buy goods with a fake note on December 15 last year.
And a man entered the shop and tried to pay for goods using a counterfeit £20 note on October 31.
Again staff spotted the dodgy cash and held on to it, with the customers leaving empty handed.
Police are now urging staff to be extra vigilant.
Detective Constable Pete Bambury, from Fratton CID, said: ‘A glut of fake cash has appeared in the Waterlooville and Havant area. I have received another three reports in the past week.
‘It appears that a chap has entered stores and handed over fake £20 notes to pay for goods.
‘Luckily the staff have identified that it is counterfeit currency and kept hold of it and the person has then left.
‘The currency is quite convincing.
‘We are urging people to be vigilant of fake notes and always check their cash.
‘If they have got any fake notes we would like them to hold onto it and contact the police.’
Speaking about the CCTV images, Det Con Bambury added: ‘I’ve been conducting an investigation to try and trace both these people and now I’m in a position to release the CCTV stills in the hope someone recognises them or they recognise themselves and come forward.
‘I’d like to stress that these people could be entirely innocent and not have been aware that the notes were counterfeit, but it’s important I trace them so that we can progress this investigation.’
Anyone with information call Det Con Bambury at Fratton police station on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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