MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minneapolis police say three girls may face criminal charges for falsely claiming they had been kidnapped.

The Star Tribune reports the girls’ story was dismissed as a hoax Saturday, but not before 26 hours of police investigation, ambulance rides to Hennepin County Medical Center, sexual assault exams, crime scene scrutiny and too many interviews to count.

Sgt. William Palmer says the cost to taxpayers, insurance companies, the girls’ families and others will total thousands of dollars. The cost of police work alone exceeded $1,200. Five officers worked on the case, including a homicide investigator pulled off his regular duties.

Palmer says police will refer the case to the county attorney, who will decide whether to charge the two sisters and their cousin with filing a false police report.