Gloucester Township police are currently conducting an investigation into a series of incidents involving counterfeit money being passed at various establishments in the region. The initial incident occurred at Gallery Pizza on Erial Road in Gloucester Township back in May, where two unidentified men allegedly used counterfeit $20 bills to pay for their purchases. Since then, several other stores in the area have reported similar incidents, involving both $20 and $100 counterfeit bills.
According to Lt. Paul Fisher of the Gloucester Township police, there have been five or six additional cases of counterfeit money being circulated, and authorities are exploring the possibility of a connection between them. The owner of Gallery Pizza recounted how one of his employees became suspicious when a man wearing a black hoodie paid for a slice of pizza with a counterfeit bill. The employee, upon realizing the bill’s authenticity, refused service to a second individual attempting to do the same.
The two suspects left the scene together in a gray minivan bearing New Jersey license plates. While the investigation is ongoing, it is worth noting that this incident is not believed to be related to two other instances of counterfeit money being discovered in Chester County, Pennsylvania. In West Chester, two men were reported to have passed fake bills at a CVS on July 1, while on May 30, two individuals used a counterfeit $100 bill at a Star Gas and Diesel in Kenneth Square.
Law enforcement agencies are urging store owners to exercise caution and remain vigilant in checking the authenticity of bills, particularly those of higher denominations. Lt. Fisher emphasized the importance of verifying all bills, especially those valued at $20 or more.
As the investigation continues, Gloucester Township police are working diligently to apprehend the two suspects involved in the initial incident at Gallery Pizza. They are also collaborating with authorities in Chester County to determine if there are any potential connections between the counterfeit money cases in the two regions.
