LAS VEGAS — A man suspected of sneaking into a restricted area of the Venetian resort and stealing $1.6 million in casino chips was arrested in Southern California, Las Vegas police said yesterday.
Authorities credited media attention about the case for a tip that led them to Palmdale, Calif., resident Akingide Cole, 31.
Deputies from the San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties sheriff’s offices took Cole into custody Oct. 24, near his mother’s home.
Cole is expected to be extradited to Nevada.
Police didn’t disclose exactly how the theft at the Las Vegas Strip resort occurred, but they said no weapon was involved, and the suspect didn’t confront anyone during the incident at about 6 a.m. Oct. 10.
Las Vegas police detectives who traveled to California during the investigation said they recovered about $396,000 in chips. Investigators are likely working on tracking the other missing chips, Officer Laura Meltzer said.
It was unlikely anyone would have been able to redeem all the stolen, high-value chips, which are usually circulated among a small group of high-rollers, said Nevada Gaming Control Board Chief of Enforcement Jerry Markling.
Casinos typically have a second, differently styled set of chips that can be put into circulation after a theft, Markling said.
That way, someone trying to play with stolen chips would stand out.