Tulsa Police Look For 'Short Change Artists'

Tulsa Police are warning business owners to be on the look-out for short change artists who got $650 from one store.

Shortchanging is where a person confuses the cashier and ends up with more change than they're supposed to get, and officers said multiple Tulsa businesses have already been hit.

"These individuals go in and take advantage of a younger, less experienced cashier and are able to get out more cash then what they end up giving her to begin with," Corporal Matt Rose said.

In just two days, police said the men got away with more than $600, and, as the investigation continues, that number could rise.

"These short change artists usually go out and they will grab something really small, a pack of gum, some Tic Tacs," Rose explained.

He said the suspects then try and pay for that item with a large dollar amount and confuse the cashier with the change.

Reasor's Director of Loss Prevention Chris Suggs said suspects are getting away with hundreds of dollars at a time.

"They are polite, usually, they are friendly. They come across very non-threatening, usually," Suggs said. "But they will impart a sense of urgency that they need this transaction done right now."

Now, stores like Reasor's are training employees to spot the warning signs of a short change artist using fake money.

"One person will act as the cashier, the other one will act as the short change artist," Suggs said.

Suggs said that training is key to helping employees prevent the crime because, once it happens, suspects can be hard to track.

If you recognize either suspect police ask you to call Crime Stoppers at 918-596-COPS.