Change Scam thief hits shop in Offaly

A Change Scam thief hit a shop in Offaly last week.

On Friday December 8 a male entered the premises in Kilcormac and asked the shopkeeper to change €500 into €20s and €50s.

"Because of a series of questions and distracting behaviour by the thief," said a Garda spokesman, "the staff member became distracted and confused and made a counting error. After the thief left the shop the staff member discovered that the shop was down by €250."

The spokesman said Change Scams are fairly common and he warned the public to be on the lookout.

He also warned the public to be on the lookout for counterfeit notes which become more commonplace during the Christmas period