Oddball Crimes

Weird things happen when people get around a lot of money, and there's definitely a lot of money in Las Vegas. For some reason, the Strip's many casinos seem to attract some strange (and less than honest) characters.

For example, former football star, actor and accused murderer O.J. Simpson found himself in question again when he and five of his slimiest friends were arrested for breaking into a Las Vegas hotel room and stealing sports memorabilia. When the incident became national news, Simpson's lawyers tried to sue the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, saying that its “What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas” marketing campaign was false advertising.

In 2006, Sportsbook.com put $100,000 in a clear box on a billboard beside the Las Vegas Strip; they also put an armed guard beneath the billboard. They then took bets from site members on whether or not the money would be stolen. Four would-be thieves tried to pull it off, but ultimately scattered most of the money on the street below.

Despite what Ocean's Eleven may imply, it doesn't take an elaborate scheme or a big team to rob a major casino; in May of 2009 a single man, gun in hand, robbed the MGM Grand casino, departed on foot, and then left town on a motorcycle. He is still at large.

Perhaps the weirdest casino-related crime to occur in Las Vegas involves not memorabilia, a car or even cash; at the center of the controversy was a cat named Hamlet. Las Vegas show producer (and Hard Rock resident) Jeff Beacher told the Las Vegas media that eccentric magician Criss Angel had stolen his cat. Supposedly Angel left Beacher a phone message in which he stated, “I took your cat. He lives with me now.” Though Beacher threatened legal action in May of 2009, the issue remains unresolved.