Couple Has Been Arrested Following Nevada Casino Heist
Expertise: Online casinos, Game tester
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According to police, last week, Lydia Salmen, 70, allegedly “jumped over the counter” at the casino’s cashier cage and took off with $625,569.47 in cash, along with numerous coins and chips. She and her husband, John Salmen, 63, were charged with theft of over $100,000 and attempted burglary of a business, as reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Money Discovered at Their Home
During a search of the Salmens’ Las Vegas home, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) officers found most of the stolen money in a duffle bag, along with the chips and bags of coins. The officers also found a note claiming that their health insurance provider would not cover certain medications and a bill for $12,039.41. The arrest report suggested that the large bills could have motivated the theft.
Lydia managed to access the cashier cage by squeezing through a gap in the bars. With no employees around, she spent roughly an hour collecting the money and chips. She apparently opened several drawers in her search for valuables, leaving some coins scattered on the floor. The couple then fled the scene in a Nissan hatchback, driving the 44 miles back to their Las Vegas home.
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Couple Identified on Surveillance Footage
Police reviewed casino surveillance footage and found that the couple had visited the casino on both June 25 and July 18. While details of the earlier visit were not disclosed, it seems Lydia caused a “disturbance” at the casino on June 25, claiming she was waiting for her husband, John. A police officer who happened to be at the casino that day for an unrelated matter captured the couple on body cam footage, which also showed a license plate registered to them.
During the home search, police found a yellow sweatshirt matching the one Lydia wore during the June 25 visit to the casino. If convicted, the couple could not only get a casino ban, but both of them may face a prison sentence.
Brad Egnor, chief marketing officer for Affinity Interactive, praised the LVMPD for their swift action in recovering nearly all of the stolen money and arresting several individuals involved in the July 18 theft at Primm Valley Casino Resort.
Due to the resort’s robust security protocols and collaboration with the LVMPD, the incident did not impact any guests or team members. We remain committed to the safety and security of team members and guests in continuing to deliver world-class experiences.
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