Man buys Girl Scout cookies with fake $100 bill, takes change

SOUTH PASADENA, CA -- South Pasadena police are searching Friday for a man who bought Girl Scout cookies with a fake $100 bill and left with the change.

The man, who is about 18 years old, entered the Vons market in the 1100 block of Fair Oaks Avenue at about 5:30 p.m. Feb. 27 and tried to buy detergent with a counterfeit $100 bill. The employee recognized the counterfeit and turned him away.

Before leaving, however, the suspect stopped at a Girl Scout table outside the market and bought three boxes of cookies with the same bill. He took the change and left with the cookies.

He "left with $85 dollars in change of real money and basically ripped off the Girl Scouts," Sgt. Robert Bartl said.

It wasn't until later that a Girl Scout leader discovered the fake bill. Police have taken the phony money as evidence.

"How unfortunate that is to think somebody would stoop that low. He did and so it would be nice for the public to take a look at him," Bartl said.

Anyone with information is asked to call South Pasadena police at (626) 403-7280.