Las Vegas’ New York-New York Hotel & Casino was robbed by an armed man in the early morning hours of January 10, the fourth casino on or near the Strip to be held up in the last two weeks.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police said the thief showed up at a cash cage around 1 a.m., revealing a handgun in his waistband and demanding cash. He was wearing black-rimmed glasses and a ski cap, according to detailed video footage of the crime. He left through the valet parking area with an undisclosed amount of money, crossed a pedestrian bridge and climbed into a taxi. He was still at large, as of this writing.
Harrah’s, Ellis Island and SLS Las Vegas also were targeted over the same period. In two instances the robbers were armed. The SLS theft occurred when a man hopped over a counter and made off with an undisclosed amount of cash.
“It is a risk versus reward situation. (Casinos) have more cash than a bank,” retired Metro Lt. Randy Sutton said in an interview with Las Vegas-based KTNV.
MGM Resorts International, which owns New York-New York, was victimized in November by a gunman who robbed a cash cage in the poker room of Bellagio Hotel and Casino. He escaped in a Chevy Cruze with Nevada license plates. No arrest has been reported.
