POLICE are looking for a man they say passed a counterfeit note at a store in North Vancouver.
The investigation dates back to last year, when the suspect paid for a purchase at a Marine Drive store near Capilano Road with a fake bill. North Vancouver RCMP looked into it at the time, but it wasn't until this week that investigators felt confident they had a photo of the suspected scammer. They circulated an image taken from one of the store's security cameras to media Wednesday.
"Someone will identify him; (the investigator) is pretty optimistic about that," said Cpl. Richard De Jong, a spokesman for the North Vancouver detachment.
"It sends out a strong message: When you pass these bills out, most stores have cameras, and you will be caught."
Although the incident was relatively minor, it's an important one for investigators to pursue, he said.
"These businesses, they bear the brunt of this," said De Jong. "It's like shoplifting or theft; we as consumers will pay for that increase in cost of operating the store."
Investigators sent the bill to Ottawa for analysis, said De Jong. It doesn't appear to belong to any known counterfeiting ring.
Investigators are asking anyone who recognizes the man in the image to contact the North Vancouver RCMP at 604-985-1311.
