AUBURN (WGME) — Three people from the Bronx, NY are in custody after Auburn police said they tried to use fake $100 bills at the local Home Depot before two of the three tried to escape.
Police were called to the story around 5:30 p.m. Friday. When officers arrived, two suspects tried to run away.
The suspects were tracked down, along with the third suspect and their vehicle.
Investigators determined the three suspects, Shaniya Jade Simmons, 19, Sadie Hiers, 22, and Kshawn Vincent Brooks, 22, had been traveling through Maine from New York using the fake money at Home Depots to buy “high value items.”
The three made several purchases at the Augusta Home Depot, totaling $3,500.
Police said purchases at other Home Depots were denied as the suspects made their way to the Auburn Home Depot.
The trio tried to buy items using different checkout lines at the same time with the fake money, with all transitions more than $1,000.
Police said one of the transactions was approved in order to delay the suspects until police arrived.
The suspects’ vehicle had “significant merchandise” inside, along with large amounts of cash also believed to be fake.
All three have been charged with aggravated forgery, with bail set at $25,000 at the Androscoggin County Jail.
Since counterfeit money is involved, the US Secret Service will review the case for possible federal charges.
“Although we have made excellent progress in reducing our shoplifting problem in Auburn, we do continue to see significant retail crime in our community,” Deputy Chief of Police Tim Cougle said. “From low-level shoplifting to more complex and sophisticated retail enterprises working in multiple states and communities throughout Maine.”
Chief Jason Moen and the Auburn Police Department initiated an “Anti-Shoplifting Campaign” in the summer of 2018 after a “significant” rise in the number retail thefts.
As part of the campaign, Auburn detectives and police officers have been meeting with local retail loss prevention and asset protection employees to ensure everyone is working together and communicating about what each store is experiencing.
