Stihl concrete saw similar to the one paid with a forged check. |
At least two local stores are out thousands of dollars after thieves stole someone's checkbook and went on a shopping spree.
Last weekend, the group hit a store in Salem.
John King runs Specialized Saw & Mower on West Main Street and says the man came in last Saturday with a sob story. He told King's employee his concrete saw had been stolen from his truck and he needed a new one.
The suspect left the Salem store with a new concrete saw after forging a check for $1,100. King says they didn't know the check was forged until Wednesday morning.
"We send a thank you card to all of our customers and the lady received the thank you card and she called us immediately and said 'Whoa, wait a minute. There's something going on here. We didn't buy that.'," says King.
King reported the forgery to Roanoke County Police. But he doubts he'll get his saw back.
This all began in West Virginia where a woman's checkbook and credit cards were stolen out of her house. She says so far 22 stores have been hit including stores in Christiansburg and Galax.
