Married Couple Accused of Stealing $650K from Nevada Casino, Needed Money for Medications
A husband and wife recently got arrested for allegedly stealing more than $650K in cash and casino chips from the cashier’s cage at Nevada’s Primm Valley Casino.
Last week, Lydia Salmen, 70, allegedly “jumped over the counter” at the cage and made off with $625,569.47 in currency and lots of coins and chips, police said.
Both she and her husband, John Salmen, 63, were charged on July 19 with theft of more than $100K and attempted burglary of a business, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Money Found at Their Home
When Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) officers searched their Las Vegas home, they found most of the missing money stuffed in a duffle bag and the chips, as well as bags of coins.
Cops also discovered a note that their health insurance provider “would not pay for certain medications, as well as a bill for $12,039.41,” the news report revealed. The hefty bills were described as a “a possible motive” for the theft, in a LVMPD arrest report.
On July 18, the wife was able to reach into the cage area by making her way through a space in the cage bars, Las Vegas TV station KLAS reported. With no employees around, she spent about an hour scooping up the money and chips, the report added.
She apparently opened many drawers in the cage area searching for the loot. She left some of the coins behind. They later were found on the floor.
The couple then fled in a Nissan hatchback and drove the 44 miles back from the casino located on the California-Nevada border to their Las Vegas residence.
It appears that no employees were present in the cage as the theft took place.
Cops View Video
After checking casino surveillance video, police determined the couple had been at the casino both on June 25 and July 18.
Police didn’t release details on the earlier incident. It appears the woman created what police called a “disturbance” at the casino back then. She told cops she was waiting for her husband, John.
By chance, a police officer was at the casino on June 25 for an unrelated reason, and the couple was videotaped by police body cams.
The footage also showed a license plate registered to John and Lydia Salmen.
During the search of the residence, police also found a yellow sweatshirt which matched what the woman was wearing on the June 25 visit to the casino.
If convicted, the couple could each face a prison sentence.
We thank the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) for swiftly recovering all but $300 and arresting several people for the theft that occurred at the Primm Valley Casino Resort on July 18,” Brad Egnor, chief marketing officer for Affinity Interactive, said in a statement this week to KLAS.
“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.”
The missing casino chips and coins, along with most of the stolen cash, were found during a search of the Salmens' home. The news report mentioned that the Salmens had allegedly attempted a burglary of the casino and stole over $650K, including casino chips.
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