Holmes

THOMASVILLE — Red dye-stained counterfeit currency that showed up at a Thomasville business was refused by a local bank.

Two fake $20 bills were in the business’ deposit. A bank employee refused to take the money from business personnel until further investigation by police.

An employee at the business told police the store has been receiving bills with red dye on them for several weeks. The employee told police she realized some of the dye-stained money was fake but did not report it.

Packets containing red dye are in certain money bank employees turn over to bank robbers. After a period of time, the dye packet burst, staining the bills.

“That money’s been in circulation,” said Capt. Maurice Holmes, Thomasville Police Department Criminal Investigations Division commander..

Serial numbers on the stained bills do not match numbers on money taken in bank robberies to which law enforcement agencies have been alerted.

“That series (of serial numbers) has not been listed as being involved in a bank robbery,” the commander said.

Holmes said blue dye is used more often today.

Fake $100, $50 and $20 bills are making the rounds, Holmes added.

The officer recalled a Thomasville case in which a pizza delivery person was robbed.

“When the suspect was arrested, police found fake currency at his house,” Holmes said. 

The counterfeit bills were money produced for motion picture use only.

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820