Casino Crime Roundup: Tampa’s Hard Rock Casino Evacuated Two Times, Bomb Squad Responds

Posted on: October 1, 2024, 11:35h. 

Last updated on: October 1, 2024, 11:58h.

Ed Silverstein @casinoorgedsilv Read More

Expertise: Legal, Tribal Gaming.

Two suspicious devices were found within hours of each other this week at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa. The Florida gaming property was temporarily evacuated two times as a precaution.

The first device was found before midnight Sunday. The second device was located at about noon on Monday.

The first device was described by the Seminole, Fla. Police Department as being a “crude concealed device with fireworks components.” It was spotted in a restroom.

That led to a partial evacuation of the casino, according to Florida TV station WFLA. Police deactivated the device.

The casino was opened some three hours later and guests were allowed back in.

The second device was located in another restroom. It also led to an evacuation, and after deactivating the device, guests were again allowed back into the property.

No one was injured by either device.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Bomb Disposal Team assisted in deactivating and removing the devices from the property.

FBI Called In

Local police have called the FBI to assist in the investigation. Officers also reviewed surveillance video to help in identifying the suspect.

No one has been arrested as of early this week. The gaming property is currently open.

It’s not clear why the suspect or suspects placed the devices in the restrooms.

Rivers Casino Des Plaines Robbery

Four bandits grabbed two necklaces from victims outside of Illinois’ Rivers Casino Des Plaines early Monday.

The masked robbers pulled out at least one gun and aimed it at at least two of the victims.

The victims had been inside the gaming property and walked back to a parked Jeep at about 1:45 a.m.

One of the four victims was a 38-year-old woman from Palatine, Ill. Another was her 40-year-old husband.

When approaching the vehicle, the woman saw a person in her Jeep Grand Cherokee. Another suspect was outside the vehicle, and two others were in a nearby Volvo.

During the incident, the suspects pulled out a gun and threatened two of the victims. No shots were fired.

A silver necklace was yanked from the husband and then the robbers stole a necklace from a 28-year-old man from Vernon Hills, Ill. A fourth victim wasn’t described.

The robbers were last seen driving away from the casino in the silver Volvo. They never stole the Jeep.