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Bills with similar serial numbers were also passed at businesses in Dumont and Paramus, New Milford Police Chief Frank Papapietro said the U.S. Secret Service told him.
“They were most likely made on a home ink jet printer with resume paper,” Papapietro said he was told.
The bogus bills (photos, above) first turned up at a River Road Dunkin Donuts on April 25 and May 8, the chief said this evening.
Detective Kevin VanSaders and Officer Michael Lafrano reviewed video from the store’s security system from the two dates and spotted several juveniles, all wearing New Milford school clothing, passing the bills, Papapietro said.
School Resource Officer Bill Wilde helped VanSaders identify all five — including the student who made the bills on his home printer and distributed them, he said.
“All of the juveniles were interviewed in their parent’s presence and cooperated by giving video statements,” the chief said.
With permission from his parents, police searched the home of the boy who made the bills and found an HP Deskjet printer/copier, a box of resume paper, a counterfeit $20 bill and five uncut $5 bills, he said.
VanSaders and Detective Sgt. Brian Long reviewed past counterfeit bill reports and found one passed at the New Milford 7-Eleven on April 13 and another on May 9 in the New Milford High School cafeteria.
Juvenile complaints were signed against two of the teens, charging them with uttering a forged instrument, possession of a forgery device and theft by deception.
The others were charged with theft by deception.
“All were released to their parents, who cooperated fully throughout the investigation,” Papapietro said.
PHOTOS: Courtesy NEW MILFORD PD
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