6/30/2008

Three Salina businesses reported being presented with money orders they later determined to be fake.

Sunflower Bank, 2450 S. Ninth, reported that someone opened an account at 2:30 p.m. Thursday with a $1,000 Wal-Mart Money Gram money order. The person deposited $900, then took $100 in cash. The bank later determined that the money order used actually was a copy of a legitimate money order, said Salina Deputy Police Chief Carson Mansfield.

At Martinelli’s, 158 S. Santa Fe, a worthless $1,000 money order was used at 2 p.m. Friday to pay for catering services totalling $452. The remainder was given back in change, Mansfield said.

Gutierrez Mexican Restaurant, 640 Westport, reported that someone attempted to pay for catering services with a $1,000 money order at 1 p.m. Friday. An employee told the person they would need to go elsewhere to cash the money order, and the individual did not return, Mansfield said.

Mansfield said police believe the three incidents are connected.