In two days West Hennepin Public Safety officials arrested two men in unrelated incidents who were suspected of crimes in numerous cities.

According to a press release from the West Hennepin Public Safety (WHPS) Department, both men have extensive criminal histories.

The first arrest took place March 26 when an alleged fast-talking conman lost out to some quick thinking cashiers.

Billy Jo White, 63 of Minneapolis, was arrested at the Mound PDQ store after he allegedly tried his luck with quick-change thefts at two Maple Plain stores. According to the (WHPS) release, White is suspected of several such thefts in western Hennepin and Wright counties.

WHPS Director Ray McCoy said that a quick-change artist normally attempts to make a small purchase at a store with a large bill and then with the help of some fast talk, confuses the store clerk about how much change he or she is entitled to receive.

“An inexperienced clerk can easily lose $50 to $100 in about 30 seconds,” McCoy said.

The WHPS release notes that about two weeks ago, the department received an e-mail about recent quick-change thefts near the area and department officials told local businesses to be alert for similar scams.

The first attempted theft report March 26, came from employees at the Maple Plain Food Center shortly after an off-duty officer walked into the store.

The employees said the man had just left the business and information about the incident and suspect was dispatched to WHPS squads, the release notes. Officers then called other stores in Maple Plain and learned that that the suspect had just left Olson's Market.

McCoy said that neither the food center nor Olson's Market lost money due to alert employees. He said that in each case, a worker realized that a potential scam might be brewing and asked the suspect to leave.

The clerk from Olson's Market gave a description of the suspect and vehicle along with the vehicle's license plate number to officers who notified other police departments in the area.

Shortly after receiving that information, noted a release from the Mound Police Department, an investigator with the Mound department decided to check the PDQ store on Three Points Boulevard and saw the suspect in his vehicle parked in front of the store.

After calling for and receiving back up from Mound and WHPS officers, the suspect, who was identified as White, was arrested and taken to the Hennepin County Jail.

The WHPS release notes that White was charged with gross misdemeanor theft by swindle. According to the Hennepin County Sheriff's jail roster, White was still in custody by the deadline for this edition of The Pioneer.

The next day, March 27, members of the department searched the St. Paul home of 53-year-old Michael McNamara. Officers were searching his home for evidence relating to identity theft, counterfeit checks and forgery, the WHPS release noted.

During the search, officers did find indication of identity theft and counterfeit check-making technology along with more than 1,000 blank checks that were ready to be made, the release noted.

McCoy said the department began investigating McNamara after receiving a report of someone counterfeiting the checks of a Maple Plain resident.

After the search, McNamara was arrested on three outstanding warrants and as of the deadline for this edition of The Pioneer he was still in custody.

McCoy noted, “McNamara has stolen numerous identities and has been extremely active issuing counterfeit checks all across the metro area. He has had warrants for his arrest for at least six months and WHPS is very happy to have been able to track him down, bring him to justice and keep him from victimizing more citizens.”