Two arrests over counterfeit notes at Mount Gambier

About 10.30pm on Thursday 2 January, a local business on Penola Road, Mount Gambier reported that they had received a $100 note that day that they suspected of being counterfeit.

Police attended and seized the note.  The suspects were identified via CCTV.

About 4.30pm on Saturday 4 January, another business on Bay Road, Mount Gambier alerted police to another $100 noted suspected of being counterfeit.  Police later attended and seized the note.

A short time later, just before 5pm, police located two suspects in the Marketplace Shopping Complex at Mount Gambier.

A 45-year-old man was arrested and charged with utter counterfeit money and traffic offences.

A 28-year-old woman was arrested and charged with theft.  It will be alleged she was in possession of goods suspected of being stolen.

About 10.45pm that night, investigations led police to a vehicle in the shopping centre car park.  A search of the vehicle allegedly uncovered a quantity of money suspected to be counterfeit, along with equipment to manufacture counterfeit notes.

The pair were further charged with offences relating to the manufacture of counterfeit currency.

Both were refused police bail and appeared in the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court yesterday, Monday 6 January.

Police recommend that anyone accepting money check the texture of the note, other in-built security features and printing.

To determine if a suspect note is counterfeit, it is best to compare it with a note that is known to be genuine.

For more information about how to detect counterfeit notes please see this information from the Reserve Bank of Australia:

http://banknotes.rba.gov.au/counterfeit-detection/counterfeit-detection-guide/

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