Sheriff's Office seeks help identifying Publix scam suspect

He asked to exchange $100 bills for smaller ones, but deliberately confused the cashier to get back more cash than he gave.


  • By
  • | 2:54 p.m. May 20, 2016
Have information? Call Deputy Gerald Ditolla at 386-313-4911 or email gditolla@flaglersheriff.com regarding Case 16-43589. Or, to remain anonymous and eligible for a reward of up to $1,000, call Crime Stoppers at 888-277-8477.
Have information? Call Deputy Gerald Ditolla at 386-313-4911 or email [email protected] regarding Case 16-43589. Or, to remain anonymous and eligible for a reward of up to $1,000, call Crime Stoppers at 888-277-8477.
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The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public's help to identify a man who scammed the Publix at 5415 North Ocean Shore Blvd. Friday, May 13.

The man walked in at around 7 p.m. and bought a bottle of Coke, but then asked the cashier in the checkout line to swap four $100 bills for smaller bills, according to a Sheriff's Office news release. 

The store's surveillance video shows the man put the money on the counter, then repeatedly exchange it back and forth with the cashier, asking for another exchange each time the cashier handed him money back. 

Another store employee told the cashier to have the man go to the customer service desk for the exchange, and the cashier gave the man the $400 back before he left the line. Then the man went to the customer service desk and did another exchange.

But during the back-and-forth at the checkout line, the man "apparently took money during each exchange," according to the news release: There was $458 missing from the cash register.

There was a similar case at a Publix in St. Augustine, according to the news release. The Sheriff's Office has asked anyone who has information about the case or knows of similar cases to call Deputy Gerald Ditolla at 386-313-4911 or email [email protected] regarding Case 16-43589.

Tipsters can also call Crime Stoppers at 888-277-8477. Crime Stoppers tipsters can anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.

 

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