Casino Crime Round Up: Illinois’ Rivers Casino Lot Site of More Armed Robberies

Posted on: March 21, 2023, 09:49h. 

Last updated on: March 22, 2023, 01:35h.

Ed Silverstein @casinoorgedsilv Read More

Expertise: Legal, Tribal Gaming.

Two men were robbed at Rivers Casino’s parking lot in Des Plaines, Ill., on Sunday night.

The suspects arrived at the casino in a Jeep Compass. They then parked their vehicle behind a Honda in the parking lot. Two suspects exited the Jeep, approached the car, and opened the door. They then pulled out a firearm and demanded money from the victims.

The robbers then stole money and a cell phone before fleeing, according to Chicago TV station WFLD. No one was injured.

The victims were described as 67-year-old and 61-year-old men. They reside in Chicago.

The suspects also robbed another individual in the parking lot of Mariano’s grocery store in Park Ridge, Ill., police suspect.

Soon after the robberies, Des Plaines police said they made arrests with suspects in custody as of Tuesday. Charges have yet to be filed, according to the Daily Herald newspaper.

The holdups follow three March 10 robberies at the same Rivers Casino and one holdup at the identical Mariano’s. The earlier robberies led to a $5,000 reward.

Rivers Casino has stated the safety and security of guests and workers “is the top priority,” the Herald reported. The casino has employed license plate readers, enhanced lighting in lots, and surveillance cameras. They were useful in the recent incidents which led to the arrests.

Incriminating Video Released of West Virginia Trooper

On Tuesday, a video was released showing an off-duty state trooper allegedly taking an envelope filled with cash at a Cross Lanes, W.V. casino in May 2021. West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice (R) released the surveillance video to media on Tuesday.

The video shows the former trooper allegedly stealing the envelope from a chair.

 Basically, any way you cut it, that money was stolen,” Justice told media this week.

The trooper has since retired, and no charges were ever filed against him. No internal investigation was launched about the incident, WSAZ reported.

The governor also appointed an interim superintendent to lead the West Virginia State Police on Monday.

Trashed Wallet in Pennsylvania Casino

A custodian at Erie, Pa.’s Presque Isle Downs and Casino allegedly tossed a wallet in a trash bin on Sunday. The wallet had fallen out of the back pocket of a casino visitor. It dropped onto a chair on which she was sitting.

The 29-year-old custodian, who resides in Erie, Pa., saw the wallet and brushed it into a dustpan rather than giving it to casino security. He later intentionally threw it into the trash, Pennsylvania TV station WJET reported.

Pennsylvania State Police will charge the unnamed custodian.