Police are warning businesses to be careful when accepting cheques, following numerous fraud reports stemming from thefts earlier this month.
On Dec. 19 Terrace RCMP arrested one man after someone tried to cash a cheque stolen from Northwest Zone Athletic Association. Another stolen cheque was deposited later that day, and last week, another man attempted to cash one stolen from a different company, according to an RCMP press release.
Terrace RCMP are aware a number of stolen cheques are still in circulation. Police are asking business owners to be vigilant before accepting or cashing cheques.
Most of these cheques will have a business name right on them,
said Constable Crystal Evelyn, Media Relations Officer for Terrace RCMP. Take the time to call the business and confirm they wrote the cheque out to the person attempting to use it. Also verify the identification of the person trying to cash it to ensure that person is in fact the person the cheque was made out to.
On Dec. 12 a man was arrested and charged following a break and enter at a business on the 4500 block of Park Avenue, during which numerous cheques were stolen. Roderick Nellis Maxwell was charged with Break and Enter, Possession of Stolen Property, and breach Probation in relation to that file.
Police are still investigating a number of frauds related to the stolen cheques. If you have any information, please contact Terrace RCMP at (250)638-7400 or report anonymously through Crime Stoppers by telephone at 1-800-222-TIPS, online at www.terracecrimestoppers.ca.