Police looking for 3 in Casino Heist
The Associated Press
Published: Friday, September 26, 2008 18:25 PDT
LAS VEGAS - Two people wearing motorcycle helmets and carrying handguns robbed a Las Vegas casino sportsbook early Friday, making off with a "significant amount of money," a police detective said.
Las Vegas Police Lt. Clint Nichols said authorities also were looking for a third person believed to driven a getaway car from the 6 a.m. heist at the Las Vegas Hilton Race and Sportsbook.
Nichols said several gamblers witnessed the robbery at the casino located just east of the Las Vegas Strip and known for its large sports betting operation.
No one was injured.
The scheme appeared well planned and was quickly executed, Nichols said.
Two people "covered head to toe" and wearing helmets entered the sportsbook through a rear parking lot entrance, he said. The pair carried only handguns and demanded cash in bags from the betting window. They ran out with the money "less than a minute" later, Nichols said.
"They were quick," Nichols said. "We have nothing."
Nichols and Hilton spokesman Ira Sternberg would not disclose how much money was stolen from the casino.
Sternberg said the sportsbook was reopened within a few hours. He was not aware of any previous robberies at the casino.
Las Vegas Hilton's Sports Book Robbed
Las Vegas Sun
Updated: Sep 26, 2008 07:16 PM
It may sound like a movie, but on Friday morning a daring, real-life robbery went down inside the Las Vegas Hilton. The gun toting crooks got away with a large amount of cash. It happened in the early morning hours and, as of Friday afternoon, the thieves are still on the loose.
So far there is not a detailed description of the suspects. At about 6:14 in the morning, before the sports book was officially open, a large amount of cash was brought in for operations. That's when two men wearing ski masks and gloves entered, grabbed the cash, and knocked some of the guards down.
The two then left the sports book, got in a car, and took off. The entire robbery took less than a minute, according to witnesses. The two were driving a stolen car which was later found downtown.
A Metro lieutenant we spoke with says this was definitely the job of professionals. "It was six in the morning so there wasn't a whole lot of people in there when they came in and did the robbery," Lt. Clint Nichols said. "They were in and out so quick I don't think many patrons even realized it. I would asses it as well planned. Obviously there was thought put into it and so far it was one of the better ones I've seen."
Police believe a third person was driving the getaway car.
