Serial Offense

After Cipriano Alvarez, 32, was arrested for several traffic offenses in Darien, Ill., police said he could go if he posted $200 bail. “He handed over two $100 bills out of four in his pocket,” said a police spokesman said, but “they weren't the right texture, and they were yellowish instead of green.” A suspicious policeman looked more closely and noticed all four of Alvarez's $100 bills bore the same serial number. “That's kind of a clear indication that the bills were not good.” The Secret Service was called in to handle the counterfeit. Police released Alvarez anyway, after finding he didn't have any real money on him. (Chicago Tribune) ...Luckily, he still had enough gumption left to pay his fine.