Jesus. This guy was born in 1982. He grew up in a world where literally all the things were able to be traced. And he pays by check AND communicates via text message about all this? I can understand not knowing there was a camera somewhere maybe, but come on. It's not like he's a septuagenarian. Even if he had zero experience in crime...he's seen...movies...or television...or the news...presumably. At least once in his life.
I'm almost at the point where I'm annoyed by people fumbling to pull out plastic cards instead of paying with their phone. Someone writing a check at a store or restaurant would have me checking the parking lot to see where they parked their dinosaur.