Police arrest four on counterfeiting charges

BARSTOW • Barstow police arrested four people suspected of passing counterfeit money at the Tanger Outlet Center on Wednesday afternoon.

Police began to receive reports of suspected counterfeit money from several stores at the outlet mall shortly before 4 p.m., and were able to detain four people identified by store employees. Police arrested Kevin Fong, 35, of La Mesa, Timothy Best, 30, of Henderson, Nev, Rick Offley, 40, of Poway, and Lisa Offley, 26, of Poway.

As the investigation continued, other store employees contacted officers present at the mall with reports of counterfeit money.

The $100 bills were counterfeits of exceptional quality. Barstow Police Officer Mike Hunter said that store employees didn’t get clear results after using counterfeit-detecting markers, and officers eventually went to a local bank, where it was determined that the bills were counterfeit.

Upon a search of a vehicle used by the suspects, officers found additional suspected counterfeit currency as well as goods purchased with the money. Officers believe that the four people charged were purchasing inexpensive items with the counterfeit bills in order to receive legitimate currency as change.

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