Montana Casino Heists Continue Unabated
Montana continues to be struck by a seemingly unending series of casino robberies. Last winter and spring, a number of heists were pulled throughout the state.All featured either one or two men, of varying descriptions, carrying a single firearm and striking after midnight in the early morning hours. Each time, the suspects wore hoodies, and fled on foot.
Well, last night after midnight, another hoody robbery took place at a Montana casino. Gabby's Casino in Billings was robbed by a single man, who fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash.
The man was described as average height and build, and wearing, of course, a gray hooded sweatshirt.
As the weather cools, it appears the Hoody Gang is prepared to rev up its business in Montana.
Clearly, all the robberies are not the work of any organization or any one individual. But the continued success of such casually planned crimes seems to have generated copycats.
It's almost as if robbing casinos has become a state sport in Montana. Law enforcement and security seem unable to prevent the attacks.
There has been no expression of concern or suggestion of methods to end the attacks by Montana officials. But inevitably, if these crimes continue, someone will end up badly hurt, and then everyone will wonder why the issue wasn't addressed before.
Recent Comments
| Posted by: Barbara Handford | When: 08/04/2009 01:00:57 PM EST |
| I was the victim of an armed robbery in Kalispell July 29th. The guy was about 6foot 25ish in age, blonde...clear complexion. Wearing a grey hoody, light colored baseball cap with sunglasses perched on top. Baggy jeans and white tennis shoes. I was alone in the room. He acted friendly at first, but as soon as I got behind the cage, he pointed a big silver revolver at me and demanded all the money I had. Looking on google this morning, I found a news story about a robbery in Missoula and one in Butte. There are pics from the cameras in these stories. This is the SAME guy!!! Our casino is isolated from the rest of the building..no one would know what was going on even if they walked by and saw in the glass door. He had his back to the door. The only thing my bosses have given us for protection is a small canister of pepper spray. I am certain he could have shot me faster than I could have sprayed him. We do have cameras, but they are directed at our work areas, not the doors. The owners are more concerned about getting thier nickles worth out of us. We have no panic button, and no way to contact the bar except by phone.The bar is at the other end of the building. I am extremely traumatized by this event, and my doctor has ordered me to take 2 weeks off. I feel very strongly that my work did not take good precautions for the safety of employees in the event of robbery. I had a meeting with the casino manager the next morning, demanding a panic button, that the cameras be angled at the entrances, and to not be alone in the room. A different manager told me my demands will not be met. I would love to converse with you on casino safety issues. It's horrifying to have a gun pointed at you and be at the total mercy of creeps. | |
