LAKEPORT ? The St. John”s Thrift Store manager said desperate doesn”t begin to describe the couple that passed off a counterfeit $100 bill just before the store closed Tuesday.
“It”s really sad that someone would hit a program that helps the community, but a church program, that”s really low,” Susan McCarty said.
Almost 4 p.m., a couple came in, bought a few things and paid with a fake $100 bill at the St. John”s Episcopal Church Thrift Store on North Forbes Street in Lakeport, getting almost $100 in change, church treasurer Willis Knight said.
Knight said the counterfeit wasn”t very good ? the color was off and darker than usual, it was missing a watermark, the edges weren”t sharp and the paper didn”t look quite right. He took the bill to Umpqua Bank and filled out a report so the bank can send it to the U.S. Secret Service. Knight said the bank”s machine described the bill as suspect.
“I”ve seen worse copies,” Knight said.
The thrift store no longer accepts bills larger than $20, which cashiers can use a counterfeit exposing pen to check for authenticity. He said the store doesn”t usually have $100 in the register.
“It”s not surprising,” Knight said. “We have shoplifters. People are people. They go where they see an opportunity.”
Knight said he hopes other business owners take notice and pay attention if people pay with large bills.
“We”re there to serve the community,” Knight said. “It won”t affect outreach, we”ll just have a little less money.”
Lt. Brad Rasmussen of Lakeport police said he hasn”t received recent reports of counterfeit bills.
McCarty said she thinks most businesses don”t accept $50 or $100 bills.
She doesn”t believe the store has received counterfeit bills before, but they have had bad checks, which is why they now only accept cash, McCarty said.
McCarty said St. John”s shares clothes and food with the community, leaving coats out for people in need to take to stay warm. The church and store depends on donations from the community.
“It”s a good day when we break $100,” McCarty said.
She said church members want to trust people.
“Here we are, doing everything for the people,” McCarty said. “All they have to do is ask and have a reasonable need. We”re more than happy to help them out.”
Contact Katy Sweeny at ksweeny@record-bee.com or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
