Two mainland Chinese men are under arrest after they allegedly stole HK$45,000 ($5,700) worth of chips from another player at a Cotai casino earlier this week. According to the police, the two suspects, both unemployed, utilized sleight of hand and coordination to commit the crime during an active game. Fortunately, casino staff and law enforcement reacted in time and restored the missing chips.
The Suspects Had a Clever Plan
According to local news outlet Macau Post Daily, the scheme began when a 45-year-old man surnamed Cheng befriended the 43-year-old victim on the gaming floor over the weekend. Posing as having “elite-level” gambling skills, Cheng convinced the anonymous victim to let him place bets on his behalf, starting with HK$30,000 ($3,800) worth of chips. The two continued gambling together until Monday evening.
Cheng’s behavior quickly aroused suspicion among casino staff. Officers conducting routine surveillance noticed him reaching for chips that belonged to the victim and then secretly stashing them away throughout several rounds at the table. Further examination of surveillance footage confirmed that Cheng swiped chips five times, pocketing an amount worth HK$45,000.
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