Bellagio Poker Room Cashier Robbed by Lone Gunman

On Tuesday at around 3:37 p.m., the Bellagio in Las Vegas became the target of a robbery after a lone armed man walked up to the casino’s poker room cashier cage and demanded cash. The suspect subsequently managed to flee the scene in a silver Chevrolet Cruze, although officers are exploring the possibility that there may have been someone else in the vehicle who was forced to cooperate with the criminal against their will.
The robbery was conducted by a white male described as being in his 30s or 40s, around 5’9” in height, and weighing 170 pounds. He was able to obscure further identification, however, by wearing what appears to have been a wig, as well as a beanie cap, and glasses. Fortunately, no one was injured during the heist, which was witnessed by actor James Woods who was playing poker in the casino at the time.
Later tweeting about the incident, Woods said that he was seated thirty feet from the cashier’s cage when the robbery took place, with the HollyWood star also praising the calm approach taken by its staff during the ordeal. As he tweeted, “they surrendered the money quietly, so no customers would get hurt. Nobody even realized it was happening. Excellent staff, cool under pressure.”
Also present at the time was local resident Randy Ohel, a Vegas pro with $1,627,463 in live career earnings, who tweeted that the incident lasted less than 30 seconds, after which the suspect left via the north valet area.
The Las Vegas Metro Police Department has since issued a warning for people to be on the lookout for a “Silver Chevrolet Cruze with NV license plate 37D147.” Anyone who spots the vehicle is advised to call 9-1-1 or Metro at 702-828-3591.
Casinos often find themselves the target of criminals, and over the past seven years the Bellagio has now witnessed at least three robberies, including in 2010 an armed motorcyclist, Anthony Carleo, making off with $1.5 million in casino chips before being apprehended. Earlier this year, masked criminals also broke into a jewelry store located inside the casino, and made off with jewelry cases. Three men were later arrested and charged over the incident.