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By Ryan Pfeil MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Posted Jul. 24, 2014 @ 12:01 am Updated Jul 24, 2014 at 2:15 AM By Ryan Pfeil Posted Jul. 24, 2014 @ 12:01 am Updated Jul 24, 2014 at 2:15 AM » Social News Two California women were booked in the Jackson County Jail on a slew of forgery, identity theft and first-degree theft charges for alleged use of forged travelers checks to make purchases at businesses around the Rogue Valley. Deborah Burrell Townsend, 50, and Kimberly Michelle Campbell, 56, both of Los Angeles, remained in the jail Wednesday on more than $1 million bail. Each is charged with 33 counts of identity theft, 29 counts of forgery, four counts of first-degree theft, three counts of aggravated identity theft and a racketeering charge. Townsend, who police said tried to flee in a vehicle, also is being held on an attempt-to-elude charge. Medford police said the women visited the Rogue Valley Mall during the early evening Tuesday and returned merchandise they allegedly purchased in California with forged travelers checks to get cash. Police said they also used the forged checks to purchase new items. The number of stores they hit caught the eye of mall security, police said. "All loss prevention knows that's a red flag," Medford police Detective Sgt. Brent Mak said. "Honestly, I don't even know why people use (travelers checks) or even take them anymore, because they're so easily counterfeited." The women also had fake identification cards and went by fake names. Townsend's alias was Kelly Hobson and Campbell went by Brenda Foster. Loss prevention and mall security officers got wise to the women's efforts, Mak said. They detained Campbell and contacted police. Townsend tried to flee in her car, put police caught up with her before she got out of the mall parking lot. An investigation shows the mall wasn't the pair's first stop, Mak said. In addition to mall stores such as Kohl's and Bed, Bath & Beyond, the women allegedly used fake checks and made fraudulent exchanges for cash at Target, Safeway and Albertsons. The spree has been ongoing for the past few days, investigators said. "We believe there's going to be more," Mak said. "They've been doing this all over the valley." A financial estimate on the women's purchases and exchanges was not available. Mak said the practice of out-of-state residents using forged or stolen means of payment up and down Interstate 5 is common. "For whatever reason, they really like three-day weekends," Mak said. "That's when a lot of it happens." Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or [email protected]. Follow him at www.twitter.com/ryanpfeil. By Ryan Pfeil MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Posted Jul. 24, 2014 @ 12:01 am Updated Jul 24, 2014 at 2:15 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2014 Local Media Group, Inc. 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