LARNED — Larned Police Chief Chuck Orth said there have been three instances of counterfeit money being passed in Larned.
Orth reports that counterfeit money had been reported on July 30, July 31 and Aug. 4. Orth reports that fake $100 bills were passed at Shopko during the afternoon on July 30 and in the evening on July 31 in separate transactions.
Orth said a male suspect apparently passed the bills, but it was not known whether it was the same person. Orth said police were viewing security footage as part of the investigation.
The Larned Chamber of Commere issused an email alert to area businesses to be aware of counterfeit bills and take security precautions and verify authentic bills.
A similar case of counterfeiting was reported in Great Bend. Three suspects were arrested at a Great Bend residence  and evidence was gathered following a search warrant of apparent counterfeiting and forgery operations.
Orth reports that it was undetermined whether the counterfeiting cases were related.