Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Gunman tries to rob Stratosphere, but leaves empty-handed

Updated Wednesday, April 20, 2011 | 8:36 a.m.

Click to enlarge photo

The Stratosphere is seen Monday, December 21, 2009.

An armed man who tried to rob a change counter early this morning at the Stratosphere fled without chips or money, Metro Police said.

Metro Lt. Ray Steiber said the man entered the poker area of the casino and proceeded to jump over a change counter in search of money.

The man, who was carrying a gun, fled the casino "when he realized there wasn't anything to take," Steiber said.

No one was injured during the attempted heist, which happened shortly after midnight. Stratosphere employees warned patrons to "get down" during the incident, but there was no struggle between employees and the man, Steiber said.

Authorities described him as black and in his 20s, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and dark pants. He was about 5-feet-10-inches tall and 160 pounds.

Investigators are obtaining surveillance video from the Stratosphere, Steiber said. It's unclear what direction the suspect traveled.

The Stratosphere robbery attempt follows two heists in recent months at Las Vegas casinos.

Anthony M. Carleo, 29, is facing trial in a December robbery at the Bellagio, and a taxi driver was arrested but a man identified as the bandit remains a fugitive in a February heist at the Rio.

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