Page 4 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • August 1, 2012 Area Police chief offers advice on detecting counterfeit bills by John Koster Wyckoff Police Chief Benjamin Fox has become a media celebrity by offering expert advice on how merchants and consumers can detect the new wave of counterfeit $100 bills. Several TV networks have called the Wyckoff Police Department to arrange televised interviews regarding detection techniques. The incident that triggered the media response took place July 17 at 5:19 p.m., when Wyckoff Police Sergeant Jack McEwan responded to a call from Walgreens at 655 Wyckoff Avenue on a report that a customer had attempted to pass a suspicious $100 bill. An investigation determined that a young male, described as Hispanic in appearance, attempted to make a $6 purchase with a $100 bill. The clerk and the store manager recognized the bill as counterfeit. The customer said he would go to his car for another bill, left the store, and went to the parking lot. He got into a maroon van with Florida license plates that was being operated by an older Hispanic male, and they drove away. A counterfeit $100 was later passed at a different pharmacy in Wyckoff. The clerk at the second pharmacy used a counterfeit detection marker, but the bill passed the “pen” test. The bill reached the bank before it was detected by a teller. “That bill was likely passed the same day and the bank will be out the money,” Chief Fox said. Counterfeit bills that have passed the “pen” test will fail the security strip test: A pre-2011 real $100 bill has the strip to left of Benjamin Franklin’s portrait. These fakes have it on the right. The new $100 bill in circulation has additional security features, including a 3D strip. The chief said the counterfeit bill passer who turned up in both store security videos is apparently the same person: a Hispanic male in his late teens or early twenties. Police said he tries to pay for a small purchase with a $100 bill that turns out to be counterfeit. Anyone who encounters this person is urged to contact the local police department immediately and should try to retain custody of the money. These incidents and similar incidents in North Jersey (continued on page 8) A store security image shows one of the suspects. Community Meals, Inc. has welcomed Trustee Cindy Galvan to the Community Meals Board of Directors. Galvan is a Ridgewood resident and an active CMI vol- Village resident named CMI trustee Cindy Galvan and Jackie Lauer unteer who coordinates Wednesday volunteer schedules and deliveries. She will serve on the CMI Fundraising Committee. Galvan brings her professional background in banking and her enthusiasm and understanding of CMI’s mission to the CMI Board. Jackie Lauer began volunteering for Community Meals in 2007, along with her daughter Jessica. In March, Jackie was named associate director and job shares office responsibilities with Executive Director Stacey Gilmartin. A Fairfield University graduate with a bachelor’s degree in marketing, Jackie resides in Wyckoff with her husband and two children. Community Meals, Inc. is a private non-profit service organization that delivers meals to the homebound Monday though Friday, excluding six holidays. Volunteers deliver meals between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to clients in Allendale, Glen Rock, Ho-Ho-Kus, Midland Park, Ridgewood, Waldwick, and part of Saddle River. Office hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday though Friday. Call (201) 447-8295, e-mail communitymeals@verizon.net, or visit www.communitymealsonwheels.org.