Brentwood Home Page news reports
A quick-change artist has been targeting regional Wendy’s restaurants and the “Brentwood” restaurant, just north of the city limits on Franklin Road Circle is among the victims.

The suspect most recently hit up two Franklin Wendy’s locations.

 “Quick-change artists use the ‘art’ of confusion at busy times to fluster clerks, and the good ones walk away with cash. Franklin businesses see rashes of this type of crime come and go,” Sgt. Charles Warner of the Franklin Police Department reports.

“Just this month, a woman placed an order at the Wendy’s drive-thru at 1313 Murfreesboro Road. After the suspect paid for her order and drove away, she went inside and said that she was short-changed, claiming to have paid her $2.17 order with a $50 bill. The suspect became irate when management told her that they would have to balance the drawer, so they gave her the change she claimed she was due,” Warner stated.

When management later balanced the drawer, they found that they were the ones who had been short-changed. The Wendy’s at 2050 Mallory Lane, less than three miles away, had fallen victim to the same scam by the same suspect just 30 minutes prior.

The suspect is described as a white female in her mid- to late-20’s with long black or brown hair. She was driving a red mini-van with a luggage rack and trailer hitch.

“Quick-change artists often try to intimidate their victims by raising their voice, belittling them, and making a scene during peak times when other customers are waiting,” Warner shared. “The best way to deal with this kind of crook is to remain calm and ask them to wait. If they truly have been short-changed, they will. Quick-change artists, however, are not likely to stick around for very long”

To send an anonymous tip to Franklin Police, text the keyword 615FPD, along with your message to 847411 (Tip411), or call Franklin Police at (615) 794-2513.