By Pat Culverhouse

Seven Minden businesses have been victimized by suspects passing counterfeit $100 bills, bills which Chief of Police Jared McIver said are extremely difficult to detect.

“A marking pen used by businesses at the checkout register will not work with these particular bills,” McIver said. “Real bills will glow with the aid of a UV light if they are authentic. These bills will pass the pen test, but will not pass the UV test. The only way to know the bills are fake is by using the black light.”

McIver said the businesses from Shreveport Rd. through Main St. and onto Homer Rd. were all hit Tuesday. In many cases, those passing bogus bills will hit a town and move on quickly, he said.

“We don’t know at this point if they hit us and left, but we want our businesses to be aware of what has happened just in case,” McIver said. “This may be one of those things where these people will hit towns along I-20 and be gone.”

Thanks to a security camera located at one of the businesses, McIver said police have a solid lead on at least one suspect.

“After reviewing camera footage, we believe the suspects are two white females in a Red Toyota FourRunner with Texas tags,” McIver said. “We do have one of the females identified who is registered to the Toyota.”

McIver said Lt. Keith King and his patrol shift have done yeoman’s work on putting together evidence in this case.

“I want to commend Lt. King and his shift,” he said. “Our investigators are awaiting the initial report to be sent up, and I’m confident they will bring these suspects to justice soon.”

McIver said security camera footage could lead to the capture of the suspects, and that should serve as an incentive for businesses to install such equipment.

“We would strongly recommend to all businesses that they consider installing cameras both inside and outside their establishments,” he said. “If they do so, they should also check the equipment regularly to be sure it’s operating. Security cameras are a valuable tool for law enforcement.”

This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.