The Old Town Police Department will gladly investigate all complaints of insufficient fund checks, and those marked "account closed".  As a matter of fact, the Police Department investigates several of these cases on a regular basis.  Check fraud is also one of the leading white collar crimes in this area.

To make a report to the Police Department, there are some things that you MUST do.   The District Attorney will not prosecute any check cases unless the following conditions are met, and the Police Department will not initiate an investigation until and unless the requirements outlined below are fulfilled.

What You Must Do!

1. Attempt face to face contact with the check passer in an attempt to collect payment.
2. If this fails, you must send a five day demand notice via registered mail with restricted delivery to the addressee only.
3. Document all of your efforts to collect the check.

If your efforts to collect payment fail, you must then come to the Police Department and obtain a "bad check packet".  This must be completed in full, and contain the ORIGINAL check, a copy of the letter you sent and the post office receipt for certified mail showing delivery or non-delivery.  INCOMPLETE PACKETS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

What We Will Do!

Once a completed check packet is turned in with the necessary documentation, the complete packet is forwarded to the Detective Division for investigation.

Generally, the Detective will locate the party involved and serve them a five day notice in hand, and also issue a court summons.  If payment is made prior to the five day deadline, the case is not prosecuted.  If the person fails to make payment, the case is then forwarded to the District Attorney for prosecution in criminal court.

Other Guidelines You Need to Know About!

1. Checks older than 120 days will not be accepted.
2. Checks are accepted for criminal prosecution only, and will not be returned.
3. Post dated checks, or checks that you agree to hold before depositing will not be accepted.

Please see below for a copy of the bad check packet.  The packet contains an instruction sheet and a sample five day demand notice.  If you still have questions, or need assistance in completing the packet, you may call the Police Department at (207) 827-6358.

• Bad Check Data Sheet
• Sample Five Day Demand Notice

Instructions

1. Checks older than 120 days will not be accepted for prosecution.
2. Checks are accepted for criminal prosecution only and are not returned if prosecution is initiated.
3. This entire report must be completed legibly.  Please print or type.
4. Checks stamped "closed account" or "account closed" will be accepted with this form, but will not result in prosecution unless subsequent police investigation shows that the passer knew the account was closed.
5. Post dated checks, or checks that you agreed to hold before depositing will not be prosecuted.
6. A 5-day statutory demand notice must be sent to the passer in each check case by certified mail with restricted delivery to addressee only.  In the event it is a company check, the agent for the company may sign.  In addition, you should attempt to make personal "face to face" contact with the passer concerning the check, and document your efforts.  Do not submit a check in this form for possible prosecution unless you are satisfied that the passer intended to defraud you, and that you would participate in prosecution even if the passer attempted to pay off the check at some future date.  Use only (1) report form for each check submitted.
7. Submit with this form the original check, a copy of the bad check notice you sent and the post office receipt return showing its delivery or non-delivery.
8. This form must be signed by the person in position of responsibility, e.g., manager, cashier, owner, etc.
9. Please return this form and the required documentation to the law enforcement office from which it was originally obtained.