Forty-seven business account checks reported stolen from three Salina businesses have been forged and cashed at area banks by eight Hispanic men who might have been working together, Saline County Sheriff Glen Kochanowski said today. Total loss reported so far is more than $40,400. The men are believed to have more checks in their possession, Kochanowski said.

Eighty-two checks were stolen from Bamford Fire Sprinkler Co., 1383 W. North; 100 checks from Stevens Contractors, 422 E. Avenue A; and 24 checks were taken from Lee Haworth Construction Co., 348 E. Avenue A. It is believed the checks were taken between June 15 and June 22.

So far, $23,227.62 has been forged on Lee Haworth checks; $16,336.37 on Stevens Contractors, and $900.80 on Bamford Fire Sprinkler checks.

The checks have been cashed at Sunflower Bank branches, Bennington State Bank branches and Speedy Cash in Salina. Checks have also been cashed in Ellsworth, Abilene and McPherson.

The sheriff’s office is requesting assistance from the public in identifying the men who passed the stolen forged checks.

Kochanowski said it is not clear how the men obtained the checks, as none of the businesses had reported break-ins. He said someone might have gone into the businesses acting like they were seeking employment and stolen checks while unobserved or scoped out a way of going back to steal the checks.

He said the sheriff’s office is working with state and federal agencies to determine if the men have committed similar crimes in other locations.

Kochanowski asks that anyone who has any information as to the identity of any of the eight men or has had recent contact with them call the sheriff’s office, 826-6500, or Crimestoppers, 825-TIPS.

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says....
omggggg they are mexicans get real...they went back to mexico ...
7/5/2009

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The Syko One says....
Angelina is right. She is rightfully complaining about someone stating they were Mexicans. We really do not know. They could be Americans of Latin descent. Or they could be Guatemalan.
7/5/2009

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Angelina says....
All that I am saying is they may be from South America Central America!!
7/5/2009

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realist says....
Angelina, it's pretty obvious what race they are. Nobody is labeling, they're just stating facts. Oh, I guess they could be Anglo-Saxon whites.
7/4/2009

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SALINAGROWN says....
I AGREE DONT THEY DO THUMB PRINTS @ THE BANKS AND IF THEY DIDNT HAVE TO THEY WOULD HAVE TO HAVE HAD A ACCT OR POSSIBLY SOME ONE @ THE BANKS WAS IN ON IT TO!!! SALINA IS GETTING TO BE AS BAD AS A BIG CITY WHEN IT COMES TO CRIME COME ON NOW DO WE NEED TO TAKE IT INTO OUR OWN HANDS TO GET IT FIXED?? OH WAIT WE ALREADY ARE.
7/3/2009

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Angelina says....
First of all you do not what race they are!! don't talk just because god gave you a mouth. I am a hispanic woman and I am ashamed, because of their actions we all get labeled.
7/2/2009

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says....
dont they normally do the finger print thing for larger sums of money at some banks? If so check that out, and if they have records volia at least you know their names.
7/2/2009

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concerned citizen says....
Several of these men have either lived or been visitors to a house on Dover Circle have seen a couple of the when driving by working on the house.
7/1/2009

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dang! says....
may have been working together? look at the people in line...
7/1/2009

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says....
They hightailed it back to Mexico ..you will never find..
7/1/2009

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K.O. says....
THIS IS ASHAME, I'M A U.S. CITIZEN AND GET THE THIRD DEGREE AT THESE BANKS JUST TRYING TO CACH A $100.00 CHECK AND THESE 8 MEXICANS CAN GO IN THERE AND CASH $40.000.00 IN CHECKS LIKE IT'S NOTHING. OF COURSE I'M SURE THE JOURNAL WON'T POST MY COMMENT, THEY PROBABLY BANK AT THE SAME PLACE..
7/1/2009

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TX Cowboy says....
Tip for police: One or more of these men worked for the stolen check companies and/or their girlfriends or wives had access to the checks.
7/1/2009

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fed up says....
This is much easier than getting a real job.
7/1/2009

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Salina Resident says....
If and when these guys are caught, they better throw the book at them, after all, we the taxpayers will have to help pay for all this stolen money! Crime in SALINA has really gotten bad this year.
7/1/2009

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