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SALT LAKE CITY — A man who approached a stranger to make change for a $50 bill had it taken out of his hands Sunday, police said.
The $50 bill was taken out of the hands of its owner after a tussle at [400 W. North Temple](<400 W. North Temple>) at about 10:23 a.m., according to Salt Lake police detective Greg Wilking. He said the thief didn’t threaten the owner of the bill or appear to have any weapons.
The thief took off running with the bill, Wilking said.
“There was no indication of anything else involved other than the man just needed to break a $50 bill and approached probably the wrong person,” he said.
There was no indication of anything else involved other than the man just needed to break a $50 bill and approached probably the wrong person.
–Detective Greg Wilking
The man was described as Hispanic, about 5 feet 10 inches tall and about 140 pounds. Police said he had short black hair with a couple days of facial hair growth. The man told police the thief was wearing a light yellow T-shirt and gray sweatshirt with faded blue jeans.
Wilking said people should be careful of who they do business with.
“My suggestion would be not to pull money out in the presence of strangers,” he said. “If somebody needs to make change, they can make change at a retailer or restaurant where they would be a little bit safer.”
Contributing: Faith Heaton Jolley
