Las Vegas NowTwo Las Vegas Casinos Robbed

Two Las Vegas Casinos Robbed

Some robbery suspects targeting the valley went after some big money early Thursday morning. Two local casinos were robbed for thousands of dollars.

It wasn't just Fitzgerald's casino that was hit last night. Wildfire Casino on north Rancho was also targeted. Police say the two are not connected.

They won't say if these robberies are connected to the bad economy, but they do say some robbers are willing to take more risks if it means they walk away with more money.

There was no fuss, no commotion, just a simple note handed from a robbery suspect to a Fitzgerald cage employee demanding money.

"He went up to the cage, presented cashier with a note told her it wasn't a joke. He wanted $100 increment bills -- to give him cash," said Metro Lt. Clint Nichols.

The robbery suspect caught on video cameras simply walked out with $5,300. He's described as a light skinned African American or Hispanic man around six feet tall and between 180 to 190 pounds. He's between 35 and 45-years-old.

"He put the money in his pocket, hailed a cab and he was taken to somewhere in the area of 17th Street and Charleston," said Lt. Nichols.

Lt. Nichols says this is the fourth casino cage robbery this year. The sports book at the Hilton was hit just a couple of months ago, "That's not unusual. We usually don't get them done to the casino cage but the economic times the way they are, people are turning to desperate measures."

Wildfire Casino on north Rancho was also robbed just a few hours before Fitzgeralds. The suspect in this case had a gun and demanded money from the casino cage employee.

Metro says he walked out with $10,000, "We are kind of at a loss to prevent these because casinos are open 24/7 and they tend to make perfect victims. That's where the money is."

And though they can't prevent them, Metro says security cameras and eyewitnesses many times help make or break a case.

Both of these suspects as well as the suspects from the Hilton sports book robbery have not been found.

Police are reminding everyone that robberies tend to spike during the holiday season. They're urging everyone to be aware of their surroundings.