Thieves are getting smarter about stealing from Valley stores, in ways that go beyond shoplifting.

At the Wal-Mart on John Wayland Highway in Rockingham County, deputies say someone bought hundreds of dollars of items with a fake cashier's check December 6. The clerk also gave the suspect the leftover balance from the check in cash.

Harrisonburg Police are reporting about five cases of fake money turning up at stores and gas stations so far this month. They say most of the fake money is $20 bills.

Staunton Police have arrested a man who allegedly tried to steal from Wal-Mart twice. Police say Dennis Devlin Crider got away with $500 of items, then came back Monday to try to steal more. However, the store manager recognized him and called police. Crider was chased and arrested by officers.

Deputies in Augusta County have arrested three people accused of stealing guns. Eight firearms were stolen from a home in Mount Solon recently. Steven Burgoyne, Bryson Michael, and Rachel Clifton were arrested this week and accused of taking the guns. None of the firearms have been recovered.

In Shenandoah County, deputies are trying to find the person who shot a car in Edinburg last week. The Jeep was parked next to a home on Hillcrest Road. It was found with a bullet hole in the back door.

A hotel in Stanley has been the victim of a stolen plasma TV for the second time in the past four months. The TV was taken from a room at the Jordan Hollow Farm Inn sometime in the past two weeks.

If you have any information about these cases, call your local police department or sheriff's office.