City police search for two suspects in money swindling
Mount Pleasant Police are looking for two men who are suspected to have stolen more than $350 from five local businesses on South Mission Street in a series of quick-change scams this weekend.
On Friday and Saturday, two men visited Big Apple Bagel, 2024 S. Mission St., Jet's Pizza, 2308 S. Mission St., La Senorita's, 1516 S. Mission St. and Tropical Smoothie Cafe, 2332 S. Mission St., and two Subways. The suspects attempted the scam at sixth business but were unsuccessful.
Mount Pleasant Police Department Public Information Office Dave Sabuda said the men scammed businesses by money swindling.
"People come into businesses and buy small priced items with a large bill," Sabuda said. "They keep asking for different dominations in change and confuse the issue. By the time they are done, stores could be out as much as $100."
The suspects were also belligerent and intimidating to the store clerks, he said.
The suspects are both described as being black males in their early to mid-fifties. One of the suspects is approximately 6-foot tall, has a buzzed haircut.. The other is approximately 5-foot, 10-inches tall, has short, curly black hair and facial hair and was described as "rougher looking," according to the MPPD press release.
At 3:45 p.m. Friday, one of the suspects came into Tropical Smoothie Cafe and wanted to buy a $0.53 item with a large bill.
"He kept asking (the employee) to break bigger bills. He kept saying he won big at the casino," said shift leader Kaila Trombley.
On Saturday morning, the business found $60 missing from the register. Trombley said an employee from Jet's Pizza came in and asked if they were also short. Looking over surveillance tapes, the Jet's Pizza employee recognized one of the suspects.
Only 15 minutes after one of the suspects apparently scammed Tropical Smoothie Cafe, one of the men appeared at nearby Big Apple Bagel.
General Manager Jessica Cuddie said a man came into the store and asked for a $0.99 item.
"Right after the transaction, he asked for larger bills for smaller bills that he had," she said.
The suspect walked away for a moment, then repeated the process.
Cuddie said a regular customer told the employee that he thought the customer was acting strange and that they should count the till, which was $100 short.
"I have heard of it, but haven't seen anything like this before," she said.
MPPD encourages businesses to contact Central Dispatch if any individuals attempt the scam. Anyone with information can call 779-5100 or the anonymous tip line at 779-5111.
Store employees should not run after customers if they leave, Sabuda said, but try to get a license plate number, physical description and a time of the incident.
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