Cashiers Swindled Out Of Money

By Sleight-Of-Hand

A cashier at the Big Y supermarket on Queen Street recently was swindled out of a sum of money by a man using a sleight-of-hand trick, according to police.

In that incident on April 13, the cashier was swindled out of about $400, police said.

Police believe that the same man using the same ruse last November 14 swindled a cashier out of a sum of money at a Big Y supermarket in Naugatuck.

Police explained how the scam works.

The suspect is a white man in his late 50s early 60s wearing a baseball cap. He approaches the customer service desk asking to cash in some small bills for larger denomination bills.

The suspect then hands the cashier his money to be cashed in, the cashier hands the suspect the larger bills in return. The suspect puts the larger bills into an envelope and puts it in his pocket.

The cashier counts the suspect’s money and informs him he is short a few dollars.

The cashier hands the suspect back his money. The suspect then hands the cashier another envelope containing scrap paper and says he will be right back with the money that he is short.

When the suspect fails to return, the cashier opens the envelope to count the money and return it to the cash register only to find the envelope has been switched to one containing only scrap paper.

The suspect is gone with the money before the cashier ever knows the store has been swindled, police said.

Anyone has information on the identity of the swindler is asked to contact the Newtown Police Department at 203-426-5841.