The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office is trying to identify identity-theft suspects who are cashing counterfeit checks at grocery stores.
From September through December 2011, the suspects were issued Tennessee-issued IDs by using falsified documents and also stole personal information from people, Hamilton County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Janice Atkinson said. They used the fake IDs to cash counterfeit payroll checks at Bi-Lo and Piggly Wiggly stores across the state, she said
The suspects have received about $10,000 in cash from using fake IDs in the Hamilton County area and have also been active in Tullahoma, Shelbyville, East Ridge, Clarksville, Springfield and Athens, Tenn., Atkinson said.
Anyone with information can call their local law enforcement office, the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Division at 423-209-8940 or the sheriff's dispatcher at 423-622-0022.