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$1.5M Chip Bandit Can't Cash in Casino Loot

Bellagio robber escaped with too-hot-to-handle chips

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 16, 2010 2:19 AM CST

(Newser) – The bandit who robbed Las Vegas' Bellagio casino this week went to a lot of trouble to get his hands on some mostly worthless plastic chips, security experts say. The helmet-wearing gunman made off with $1.5 million in casino chips ranging in value from $100 to $25,000—but he won't be able to redeem them anywhere except at the scene of the crime. Casinos don't publicize their security measures, but the $25,000 chips are almost certainly fitted with some kind of tracking device, the Los Angeles Times notes.

Casino security guards didn't pursue the robber, and experts say letting him get away was definitely the right move. A gaming researcher at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas asked: "Which is a worse headline: '$1.5 million stolen from the Bellagio in chips'—or 'Three innocent bystanders dead in gun battle'?"

Police believe this bandit caught on camera at the Las Vegas Suncoast Casino last week is  the same man who who escaped on a motorcycle with about $1.5 million worth of casino chips from the Bellagio.
Police believe this bandit caught on camera at the Las Vegas Suncoast Casino last week is the same man who who escaped on a motorcycle with about $1.5 million worth of casino chips from the Bellagio.   (AP Photo/Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 6 comments
wwwonderer
Dec 16, 2010 11:10 AM CST
What happens when the Bellagio gets NEW $25,000chips? Let's say they switch from a red color to green. I don't know the situation. I've never been to Vegas. I don't gamble, with money. Theses chips seem worthless. It's like saying someone has $1.5 million in STOLEN Confederate dollars, which the 'Confederates' are looking for.
pg13
Dec 16, 2010 9:29 AM CST
Bellagio is lying about the tracking device so others won't try to rob them. They know the robber is going to melt one of the chips anyway to look for an RFID, and is going to examine a chip with UV light, X-rays, etc. and look for embedded plastic patterns in the chip. Mr. Robber, I'd be happy to help you look!
vendetta
Dec 16, 2010 7:07 AM CST
..but the $25,000 chips are almost certainly fitted with some kind of tracking device, LMAO, no; no they're not.

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