Sydney schoolboys' illegal act at newsagency sparks uproar: 'Privileged'
Students from an elite Sydney school have been slammed as "privileged" after reports they were caught using counterfeit cash at a small local business, fleecing the store of $100.
Two boys — believed to both be from Scots College in Bellevue Hill — exchanged four $50 notes for two $100 notes at the Double Bay Newsagency, but two of them were reportedly fake.
The alleged crime took place on Sunday. On Thursday, Today show host Karl Stefanovic condemned the "unbelievable" act.
"Are you serious? What sort of privileged world do these people live in? It is unbelievable," he said live on air.
It's been alleged the students returned to the store on Tuesday and a different boy attempted the same scam again, The Daily Telegraph reported.
NSW Police confirmed to Yahoo News Australia the currency was seized and inquiries continue.
"On Monday (17 October 2022), officers from Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command attended a Double Bay business, after counterfeit currency was used at the store the previous day," they confirmed.
School to take disciplinary action
Following the incident, the store manager Jim Cho reportedly shared CCTV footage online to help identify the boys in the video.
In it, one can be seen fumbling with his wallet before handing over the notes.
After learning they were students at the nearby Scots College, Mr Cho allegedly contacted the school.
The following day teachers from the school attended the store. Mr Cho claimed they attempted to downplay the issue.
Scots College principal Ian Lambert told media the school "takes the situation extremely seriously and appropriate disciplinary action will be taken".
Mr Lambert said "the business owner has been contacted and repaid in full" and the school is cooperating with police.
Train them in the SES, Stefanovic says
Appalled by the incident Stefanovic had his own ideas about how the students could be educated to discourage such behaviour.
"What lesson do you teach the kids that you do something like this, and someone bails you out," Stefanovic hit out on Thursday.
"Give the kids training in the SES during high school so these young kids that can go out there and do something for the community, rather than going out and getting counterfeit money and ripping off a newsagency."
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Sydney 2GB radio station drive presenter Jim Wilson, who also appeared on the show, agreed that the alleged conduct was "disgraceful".
"Those students from Scots College, they were ripping off that newsagency … get on the frontline and learn what life is all about. Why not?" he said.
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