MASON CITY – A quick change scam artist has victimized a Mason City Hy-Vee store and may be working the area.
Mason City police confirmed to NIT that Hy-Vee West, 2400 4th Street SW, reported a quick change theft \on Monday, October 10 at 4:05 PM. Police said the actual theft occurred on the evening of October 8.
A police spokesman told NIT that “At this time, we are not releasing amount of money taken. Suspect was a darker-complected white male who spoke with broken English.”
The Fort Dodge Messenger News reported Thursday that a quick change scam artist had worked some magic at a Webster City bank. They reported that, according to Webster City police, a suspect of possible Hispanic decent had walked into the First American Bank in downtown Webster City on Tuesday of this week, near closing time with $2,500 in cash in $20 bills and after working over the cashier, left with an extra $1,050 in cash.
The Messenger News reported that the Mason City Police Department had said “the same suspect” was seen on Hy-Vee security footage in Mason City on Saturday, October 8 performing a quick change scam.
However, a Mason City police spokesman told NIT this afternoon that “I cannot confirm whether or not our suspect is the same as Webster City / Fort Dodge incident.”
Anyone with information in this case should call their local law enforcement agency.