WEST BOUNTIFUL, Utah (ABC 4 News) - Two women were caught in a local Shopko store after attempting to pass bogus traveler's checks.
These women are accused of running this theft ring in multiple states including Utah, Idaho, Colorado, Nevada, and California.
"They'd just buy little four or five dollar item...it can be a pair of flip flops," said Michael Buchanan, of the West Bountiful Police department.
About a month ago, Aria Moses and Juliette Jackson from Oakland, California went into a Shopko in West Bountiful. They paid with a one hundred dollar traveler's check. The clerk gave them the change and the suspects moved on to the next store.
"It took about a month, but this month the store got them back from American Express saying they were counterfeit," Buchanan said.
But over the weekend, these two women returned to the same Shopko and were busted. After being stuck with bogus traveler's checks the first time, the employees say they were ready this time.
"It was fresh in our mind and the security guy was telling the cashiers to watch out for these things and these girls happened to come in."
A third suspect was seen on surveillance, but got away according to Police.
Inside their rented car, police found thousands of dollars in clothing and cash. Along with some receipts that show the women also could have been in Layton and Logan.
When they were arrested, police say they found them trying to pass the checks at a nearby clothing store.
Police also say there may be more stores in Utah that have been victimized but they aren't sure because it takes about 30-days before banks clear the checks.
They have been charged with unlawful use of a credit card and possession of forged documents.
