Arcades are places of glitz and glamour. They have always been known for their huge sums of money. But it is precisely these mountains of money that also attract criminals. They want to outsmart the system with their bold plans.
The Stardust Heist
One of the most audacious heists took place in 1992 at the Stardust Casino in Las Vegas. The perpetrator, Bill Brennan, worked there as a cashier. One day he simply walked out of the building with a pocket full of $500,000. The most amazing thing? He was never caught and the case remains unsolved to this day.
The Bellagio and the biker bandits
In 2010, the Bellagio in Las Vegas experienced a spectacular theft. Anthony Carleo, who became known as “The Biker Bandit,” entered the casino wearing a motorcycle helmet and carrying a gun. He stole about $1.5 million worth of chips. But Carleo was caught two months later when he tried to sell the chips.
The Ritz Casino Coup
A particularly sophisticated robbery took place at the Ritz in London in 2004. Three people used a laser device and a cell phone. This allowed them to calculate the speed of the roulette wheel. As a result, they swindled winnings of over £1.3 million. Even though they were arrested, they were able to keep the money because no specific laws were broken.
The raid on the Soboba Casino
In 2007, a robbery took place at Soboba in California, planned by an employee, Rolando Ramos.
He and his accomplices overpowered the security guards and stole over $1.5 million. However, Ramos and his gang were quickly caught.
The Crown Spectacle
One of the largest fraud cases in history occurred in 2013 at the Crown Casino in Melbourne, Australia. A high roller worked with an associate to defraud over $33 million.
They used surveillance cameras and other technology to gain an advantage while gambling. The fraud was discovered and those involved were arrested.
The Circus Circus Theft
A lesser known but still notable robbery occurred in 1993 at the Circus-Circus Casino in Las Vegas. A security guard named Heather Tallchief and her accomplice Roberto Solis faked a cash-in-transit operation to make off with $2.5 million.
Tallchief surrendered to the authorities years later, but Solis remains on the run to this day. The case is striking for its simplicity and long-standing success, which misled the authorities for years.
The Monte Carlo Robbery
Another robbery happened in 2008 in the famous Monte Carlo in Monaco. A robber acting alone, armed only with a pistol and a mask, stole over 4 million euros. He managed to bypass the surveillance cameras and escaped undetected.
This case shows that despite state-of-the-art security technology and strict monitoring, there is still room for traditional methods. The perpetrator was never caught, and the robbery is considered one of the boldest in the history of European gambling.
Final Thoughts
These stories show that such robberies are exciting not only in films, but also in reality. They tell of the boldness of the perpetrators, the thrill of the crime and the relentless pursuit by the authorities.
While most cases ultimately led to the arrest of the perpetrators, some remain forever etched in the annals of criminal history. Technology and security measures are constantly evolving to prevent such incidents.