Police: Suspect Uses Sleight-Of-Hand Deception To Steal Hundreds From Mantua Township Liquor Store

MANTUA TOWNSHIP, N.J. (CBS) – Now you have $740, now you don't.

A con artist using sleight-of-hand deception stole that much from the Wine Warehouse in Mantua Township.

Last Monday, a tall red-headed man went to the cashier to buy a soda for who they believed was his son and asked for change for seven $100 bills.

After marking the $100 bills, the cashier and her manager counted out 35 $20 bills for the man.

He took the money and then complained that he wanted change in Canadian money and handed back the stack of 20s.

He only really gave back about half of the money and pocketed the rest.

He then repeated his request and stole half of another stack of 20s before he was asked to leave and sent off with his original $100 bills.

"We didn't realize until the end of the night that we were $740 short for that drawer and it was too much of a coincidence just to happen," says general manager Mark Stagliano.

The trick can be clearly seen on security cameras as well as the man's face.

The store and Mantua Police are hoping someone recognizes him fore he strikes again.

Anyone with information should call 856-468-1900.