Las Vegas Sun

April 18, 2024

Arrest announced in million-dollar chip heist from Venetian

Media reports lead to tip of fugitive’s whereabouts in California

Akingide Cole

Akingide Cole

California law enforcement officers have arrested a man suspected of stealing more than $1.6 million in high-denomination gaming chips earlier this month from the Venetian casino, Metro Police announced Tuesday.

Media coverage of the theft led to a tip that helped authorities locate Akingide Cole, a 31-year-old from Palmdale, Calif., Metro Police said. Sheriff’s officers from San Bernardino County and Los Angeles County arrested Cole on Wednesday near his mother’s home in Southern California.

Cole was arrested on fugitive warrants charging him with grand larceny, burglary and possession of burglary tools.

Detectives from Metro’s tourist crimes unit traveled to interview Cole and were able to recover about $396,000 in chips. They are in the process of searching for the remainder of the stolen property, said Laura Meltzer, Metro spokeswoman.

The theft occurred shortly after 6 a.m. Oct. 10 from an area where the chips were kept, off the casino floor, police said.

Cole has not yet been extradited to Nevada, police said.

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