Taylor candy store owner alerts area businesses after counterfeit currency incident

Steve Sikora, owner of The Bulk Store in Taylor, Michigan, accepted a $50 bill that employees later determined to be counterfeit during a transaction on Wednesday evening. The incident was recorded on surveillance video and occurred shortly before 6:30 p.m. when a customer attempted to purchase $7.90 worth of candy.

Sikora was not present in the store during the initial transaction as he attended a funeral. Employees noticed the bill appeared to be from an older series and held it up to the light. They contacted Sikora, who instructed them to accept the currency. Minutes later, the store manager reported that a second man entered to buy candy bars and tendered a $100 bill that resembled the first.

Upon receiving the call, Sikora stated, "Oh jeez, we're getting hit." Employees asked the second customer for an alternative form of payment, and the man left the store without purchasing candy. The store did not file a police report. Taylor police indicated that May's Bakery and Country Store also reported a similar incident, where owners declined to accept money they believed was fake.

Cathy Bradley, an employee at The Bulk Store, expressed concern for the owners. "He really doesn't deserve it," Bradley said. "Him and his wife both, they work really hard and they're good people." Sikora noted that financial loss is particularly difficult for small business owners who must support their families and staff. "I got a family to feed," he said. "I gotta take care of my staff, they're family to me. So I worry about them."

Sikora advised other local business owners to remain vigilant without being overly suspicious of every customer. "Just be cautious, that it is happening at the moment at least," he said. "Don't be suspicious of everyone that comes through your door, but if something feels off, trust your gut." He hopes that sharing the details of the incident will help prevent similar losses at other establishments.

The Bulk Store is urging peers to inspect bills carefully if they appear unusual. Sikora stated, "My wish is that it doesn't happen to anyone else. It may do more harm to them than it did to us." The store manager recalled the second customer's attempt, noting the $100 bill "looks just like the fifty you told us to take." Sikora described the initial shock of the event, saying, "When it does happen, it just catches you off. You think, how could somebody do this?"

Surveillance footage from the incident was reviewed by local media. Faces in the video were blurred because the individuals have not been charged with a crime. Sikora emphasized that the goal is to protect other small businesses in Taylor from the financial impact of counterfeit money.