Tactics being used by thieves to steal cash in Europe have made their way to Bendigo, with two local businesses being duped out of money.
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UK police reached out to local officers after the Bendigo Advertiser reported on businesses in Epsom and Kangaroo Flat losing money in July.
Bendigo Sergeant Damian Keegan said the same sleight-of-hand distractions had been used by thieves to steal cash and jewellery in Europe and had since infiltrated the US.
“It also appears that these people have been active in Queensland and South Australia,” he said.
In both local cases, a man approached the business and asked for a large amount of $100 notes to be broken down into $50 notes.
At the first, a large retail business in Epsom, the man took the $50 notes, and then asked for smaller notes again. When the business couldn’t provide the change, the man asked for his original notes back and subtly kept some $50 notes back when handing them over.
At the second, a Kangaroo Flat bank lost a substantial amount of money in a similar fashion, but this time instead of asking for smaller notes, a man asked for Euros.
Sergeant Keegan said he had been in contact with Northumbria police, after they reached out via email.
“With the assistance of the UK police, we’ve been able to identify the suspects,” he said.
“We thought it might have been the same person originally but on reviewing CCTV footage, we’ve been able to ascertain there were two.”
The pair is known to UK police and is not from Australia.
Sergeant Keegan said it was the first time in his more than 20-year career with Victoria Police that he had seen an international police force make contact and offer assistance with solving crime here.
He said Bendigo would continue to work with Northumbria and Australian law enforcement to try to track down the offenders and encouraged large business to take care when dealing with cash.
“Just be mindful of people who want to exchange large bills such as $100 into smaller denominations,” he said.
“And count the cash when changing back over.”
- with CHRIS PEDLER