Toys 'R' Us Fake Money Arrest in Pinole Linked to San Rafael Store

Three people were arrested in Pinole Wednesday for allegedly trying to return merchandise that had been purchased with counterfeit money, Pinole Police announced Thursday.

A security guard at the Pinole Toys "R" Us store called police just after 7 p.m. reporting "a suspect was attempting to return merchandise that had been purchased using counterfeit money earlier in the evening at the San Rafael Toys 'R' Us location," according to a Pinole Police Department press release.

When police arrived, the suspect ran but was caught. Two accomplices were found in a car outside, police say.

Arrested were 26-year-old Kashif Key, 23-year-old Ronnie Harper and 22-year-old Antoine Simpson.

Authorities found the trio had links to other similar fraud cases at Toys "R" Us stores in Vallejo and San Rafael, and believe there may be more related cases throughout the Bay Area.

"At least one of the suspects was in possession of several pre-paid Visa gift cards, some of which were determined to be fraudulently embedded cards," the police department press release stated. "Due to counterfeit US currency being used, the United States Secret Service responded to the scene to assist in the investigation."

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call the Pinole Police Department's Detective Takacs at 510-724-8944.

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