Waterford — Police on Thursday evening charged three New York residents with larceny and forgery after they allegedly used counterfeit cash to buy "a large amount of merchandise" at four Waterford stores.

A Best Buy employee about 7 p.m. Thursday tipped off police that a male in the store was trying to pass counterfeit $100 bills; the male exited the store and left behind the bills, police said. Using a vehicle description and possible license plate number provided by a witness, police found a matching car in the nearby Target parking lot.

Police said they approached three people returning to the car from Target: Jaquan Spruill, 28, of Bronx, N.Y., and Ebony Brown, 23, and Jynneera Jones, 24, both of Brooklyn, N.Y., who all allegedly were found with several items bought with counterfeit bills.

All three face charges of first-degree forgery, organized retail theft, fourth-degree larceny, two counts of fifth-degree larceny and sixth-degree attempted larceny. Spruill additionally faces charges of third-degree identity theft and fifth-degree attempted larceny.

Police said they seized the vehicle, merchandise and at least $3,000 in counterfeit $100 bills, and all three subjects were held on $25,000 cash or surety bond.