THREE Stawell people have been arrested for producing counterfeit money.
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It comes after five weeks of police investigations into counterfeit money in the region.
Police from Ararat, Stawell, Northern Grampians Highway Patrol, Northern Grampians Family Violence Unit and Ararat Crime Investigation Unit executed a search warrant at a Gertrude Street property just after 9am Saturday.
Four people were located at the house and three arrested.
Police seized items including 24 counterfeit notes of various denominations totalling $1220.
Investigators also took equipment used to produce the notes.
The three people were escorted back to the Stawell police station where they were interviewed.
Police allowed one to go but refused the other two bail and they were remanded in custody.
One of the two in custody was a Stawell male, 17.
He was charged with 12 offences including obtaining property by deception and producing counterfeit money.
He will spend the weekend in custody and appear at a children’s court at a later date.
A Stawell woman, 20, was charged with 16 offences including obtaining property by deception and producing counterfeit money.
She will face the Ballarat Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
A 50-year-old Stawell man was also arrested and interviewed.
He received three charges including obtaining property by deception and producing counterfeit money.
He was released on bail to appear at the Stawell Magistrate's Court on January 7.
Police spoke to another woman at the address but she was not arrested.
In the past five weeks, police have been advised of 10 counterfeit money incidents in Horsham, 10 in Stawell and eight in Ararat.
The total value of these reported incidents is more than $2000.
Police believe the circulation of these counterfeit notes has not been restricted to the western region.
After consulting with the Australian Federal Police they have warned people to be vigilant when dealing with cash.
They have also urged people to check a note's integrity by analysing its characteristics, and to contact police if they notice anything abnormal.