Police

Counterfeit bills used to buy gift cards; $5K reward offered

Security cameras captured the man police said used fake money to buy a gift card in Riverhead. (Credit: Riverhead police)
Security cameras captured the man police said used fake money to buy a gift card in Riverhead. (Credit: Riverhead police)

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Riverhead Police Department detectives are asking for the  public’s help to identify and locate the man they believe used counterfeit money to purchase a gift card at a store on Route 58 in Riverhead last month.

Police said a man entered Walgreens, located at 1196 Old Country Road, and purchased a $500 gift card using five counterfeit $100 bills on Jan. 16 at 6:20 p.m.

Authorities described the suspect as a black male standing 5 feet 11 inches tall with a beard. He was wearing a red jacket and jeans at the time of the incident, surveillance video shows.

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest, police said.

Any with information on either robbery is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS or the Riverhead Police Department at 631-727-4500.