A (501) C Non-Profit Organization
Tri-County
Crime Stoppers
of Minnesota, Inc.
Serving Central Minnesota
P.O. Box 545 St. Cloud, MN 56302-0545
St. Cloud Area: 255-1301
Outside St. Cloud: 1-800-255-1301
About Crime Stoppers
Online tip reporting
Tri-County Crime Stoppers has added online tip
reporting to it’s arsenal of tools for use by citizens to anonymously
submit tips on unsolved crimes in the tri-counties of Benton, Stearns and
Sherburne.
Go to the "How To Report / Collect" page for complete instructions.
Crime Stoppers Open Cases for Week of November 3, 2008
Stearns County Sheriff: Hit-and-Run
At approximately 6:14 p.m., on October 31st, a bicyclist was struck by a
passing southbound vehicle on County Road 133 in St. Joseph TWP. This
occurred just south of the intersection of 320th Street and Mullen Rd.
This agency is also looking for a 1996 to 2000 Dodge / Chrysler style
mini van. The vehicle would be missing the passenger side mirror assembly
and radio antenna.
The Stearns County Sheriff’s office is asking for any information relating
to this accident.
Benton County Sheriff: Burglary,
Criminal Damage to Property and Arson
At approx. 5: 18 a.m. on 10/23/08 Benton County Sheriffs Office dispatch
received a report of a fire at Granite City Roofing, 1095 39th Ave. NE.,
Minden Township. Sauk Rapids Fire Dept. and Benton County Sheriff's
Deputies responded to the scene.
Upon arrival they discovered a 2007 Chevrolet Pickup that was parked
inside of the business that was on fire. This vehicle was owned by Granite
City Roofing. Further investigation revealed that a burglary had occurred
at the business and that two other vehicles had also been damaged.
Total damage to the building and vehicles is estimated at $160,000.00.
A witness reported that a person was seen running from the vicinity of the
business just prior to the report of the fire. No further description on
the suspect is available. This fire has been ruled as a suspicious/arson
fire by the state fire marshals office. Anyone with information is asked
to contact the Benton County Sheriffs Office at 320-968-7201 or Crime
Stoppers at 320-255-1301 or 1-800-255-1301.
St. Cloud Police: Counterfeit $100 Bills
The St. Cloud Police Department would like to alert area businesses that
counterfeit $100 bills are being circulated in the St. Cloud area. We have
taken several reports from local businesses and have retained the
counterfeit bills as evidence in an on-going investigation.
The counterfeit $100 bills appear to have been made using genuine US
currency $5 bills that have been altered into $100 bills.
There are two simple, immediate tests that can be conducted that will
allow businesses to suspect that they may have received a counterfeit
bill.
First, on US Treasury bills, the denomination number that is located in
the lower right corner (when viewed from the front) is printed using a
color-shifting ink. When tilting the bill up and down, the ink changes
color. The color remains constant on these counterfeit $100 bills. It does
not shift color. This initially indicates the bill could be a counterfeit.
Second, US Treasury bills contain a watermark. The watermark is located on
the right side of the bill as it is viewed from the front. It appears when
using an alternate light source. Hold the bill up to a florescent light
for example. The watermark will appear.
The watermark is a facial image that should match the portrait on a
genuine bill.
The counterfeit $100 bill has a portrait in the center of Benjamin
Franklin, whose portrait does appear on genuine $100 US Treasury bills.
However, the watermark facial image that appears on these counterfeit $100
bills is the face of Abraham Lincoln, whose portrait legitimately appears
on genuine US Treasury $5 bills.
This indicates that a legitimate US Treasury $5 bill has been
counterfeited into a $100 bill.
The pens that many businesses use to mark currency and thus detect a
counterfeit are defeated by this particular counterfeit. It may also be
difficult to see the color-shifting ink in low light conditions that might
exist in many bar establishments. We recommend the watermark comparison by
checking the specific bill using the alternate light source method as the
main test.
Businesses that suspect that they have received counterfeit currency
should contact their local police department as soon as possible.
Descriptions of suspects and vehicles possibly involved should be
provided. Any video surveillance images captured would be beneficial to
the investigation by law enforcement.
For more information contact: John Justin, Crime Prevention Specialist,
St. Cloud Police Department, (320) 650-3682 or by email at: john.justin@ci.stcloud.mn.us
St. Cloud Police: Burglary and Property Damage
On 11/3/08 at approximately 1911 hours officers from the St. Cloud Police
Department were dispatched to the 1500 block of St. Germain Street E in
reference to a burglary complaint. Investigation revealed that an unknown
individual(s) kicked in a garage door and stole several items, valued at
over $1300, from the garage.
St. Cloud Police: Burglary, Felony Theft,
Criminal Damage to Property
On 11/2/08 at approximately 2010 hours officers were dispatched to the 600
block of 9th Avenue S for a burglary report. Through investigation
officers learned that a burglary had occurred between 11/1/08 at
approximately 1700 hours and 11/2/08 at approximately 1115 hours. Access
to the home was gained through the front door. Items taken include cash, a
laptop computer, and a bookbag. No residents were home during the time of
the burglary
St. Cloud Police: Fraud
(From week of October 27, 2008)
On 10/29/08 St. Cloud Police took a report of a secret shopper money scam.
In this case fictitious money gram orders and bank checks were mailed to a
victim who then cashed them, and per instructions wired a portion of the
money to the originating mailer. The victim has lost approximately $2,200
in this case. At least one St. Cloud banking institution reports four of
their customers have fallen victim to similar scams. All victims are
believed to be receiving Social Security and/or disability benefits which
may be related to how the victims are being contacted either via mail or
email. St. Cloud Police advises not to participate in any secret shopper
or similar programs in order to prevent citizens from also falling victim.
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