A history of heists

There is a certain fascination with heists and robberies that seems to capture the imagination of the public like no other crimes. While stealing a handbag or defrauding the public is universally condemned, the great heists are celebrated, often ending up as the story lines for successful films.

What thrills the public is open to debate? is it the size of the life changing amount stolen? or that it’s been taken from a faceless corporation?

Whatever the reason maybe, at CGP we are equally fascinated by heists and with that in mind we decided to look back over some of the more interesting Casino heists.

The man who vanished into Stardust

In September 1992 a cashier at one of Las Vegas’ most famous Casinos walked out of the front door of the building, past security and away with over $500,000. William (Bill) Brennan, who worked as a cashier with the casino’s sportsbook had just finished what would be his last shift and casually left carrying half-a-million dollars in a bag.

You would imagine that the ensuing police, FBI and even news reports on TV would have located this uber confident individual. However to this day Brennan, who at one stage was among the FBI’s most wanted has never been seen since.

Police maintain that he fled the country and is now no doubt sunning himself in an exotic location paid for by his ill gotten gains. However speculation continues and some believe that his disappearance was in fact due to him being killed by an accomplice. Whatever the truth if Bill is out there (let’s face it i bet he googles his name now and then, wouldn’t you?) then feel free to tell CGP your story. 

Her name rhymes with thief

A year after Bill’s vanishing act, Heather Tallchief stole along with accomplice and then lover, Roberto Solis, $3m from outside Circus Circus hotel and casino in Las Vegas.

In October 1993 $3m had arrived outside Circus Circus via an armored truck ready to be transferred into the premises. Tallchief and Solis had other plans for the money and the pair seized the armored vehicle and subsequently fled America, apparently via the Cayman Islands along with the $3m.

12 years after the robbery took place on September 10 2005 Tallchief, who had been in hiding in the Netherlands, decided to give herself up to the authorities.

In defense of her part in the crime Tallchief pleaded that she was manipulated by “sex magic” and hypnosis into being an accomplice. Stating that she found it “hard to coordinate an outfit to wear in the morning”, “there is no way I could plan anything that complex”. When asked about the missing $3m and Mr Solis she replied “I don’t know, we lost touch 10 years ago”. 

On the 30th march 2006 Heather Tallchief was sentenced to five years imprisonment. 

Lightening strikes the same spot twice

June 20th 2006, following a high speed chase, Charles Edward Lucas, suspected of attempting to steal from a Las Vegas bank veered off the road and was found by apprehending offers with a fatal self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head. 

The story though, really only begins then. Further police investigation found that Lucas was in fact responsible for not one but two robberies at the same Casino. On January 10 2006 police responded to a robbery response call at Gold Coast Casino. Luckily for them the whole event had been captured on CCTV. What surprised the police most was that the robbery had been perpetrated by a man who fitted the exact MO and description of the perpetrator of another robbery at the same casino a year earlier in 2005. 

Even stranger, Lucas not only returned to the scene of the first crime, though this time wearing a long grey wig (nice touch) but also demanded the money from the same cashier point and unfortunately for them the same cashier clerk.

Lucas who evaded capture for over two years was also found to have been responsible for 12 other casino robberies.