Robber strikes at 2 poker game rooms

An unidentified man, carrying a backpack, staged a daylight robbery twice during a four-day period at two poker establishments on Saipan. Both incidents were caught by surveillance cameras.

The suspect managed to get a poker machine’s cash box containing $5,231 in bills from Sun Palace Hotel’s poker room in Susupe on Saturday at noon and over $30 in coins from Martha Retail Store’s poker room in Garapan on Tuesday afternoon.

Department of Public Safety acting spokesman Jason Tarkong said yesterday that the suspect was described as a local male in his mid 30s with dark complexion and about 5’6” tall and 180 lbs.

Tarkong said in the Martha’s Store case, the suspect was wearing a blue boonie/bush hat with sunglasses on top of the hat, a gray hooded-type sweater, checkered blue and gray shorts, and slippers.

The suspect was carrying an Under Armour backpack.

Tarkong said the suspect drove away in an old model white Toyota Corolla four door-sedan with tinted windows.

In the Sun Palace Hotel case, Saipan Tribune watched the video and observed the same suspect wearing the same bonnie/bush hat, checkered shorts, and slippers, and an Under Armour backpack.

The only difference is that the suspect was wearing a gray T-shirt. Witnesses said the suspect also fled aboard a white car.

Tarkong said police officers responded to Martha’s Store on Tuesday afternoon and met with the manager, who reported the matter to the police.

Tarkong said the theft was discovered when employees were searching for the poker machines’ master key and could not find it.

Tarkong said the store manager reviewed the video surveillance and discovered the crime.

Tarkong said investigation showed that the suspect entered the store at 1:19pm and walked into the poker room.

The suspect approached the poker attendant’s counter and grabbed the key for the poker machines.

The suspect then opened three poker machines, but managed to get only over $30 in coins as the cash boxes in the machines were locked. He, however, caused damage worth about $500 to one machine.

Tarkong said the suspect walked out, purchased a drink from the store, and drove away aboard the white Toyota Corolla.

In Saturday’s case, Sun Palace Hotel owner Shirley Kim told Saipan Tribune that the suspect came to the poker game room at 11:34am and pretended to be a customer.

Kim said when the suspect was alone in the game room, he opened one of the machines using a tool and removed the cash box and put it in his backpack.

The suspect, who was carrying a cell phone, then left at 12:26pm.

As a result, since the incident yesterday, only two of the three poker machines have been functional.

Kim said they discovered the robbery when one customer called the front desk when he noticed that there was problem with one machine as its wirings were sticking out.

Kim said they then called the police.

Crime Stoppers is seeking the public’s help to solve the two cases.