Two men have been placed under arrest after allegedly stealing from roughly 20 cars from casino parking lots in the Philadelphia area.
The duo, identified as 33-year-old D.M. and 29-year-old E.B. by Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday, allegedly broke into the parked vehicles during a crime spree that unfolded in June.
They Found the Cars Unlocked
Investigators claim the suspects targeted casino parking lots to take advantage of unsuspecting drivers who had no problem leaving their vehicles unlocked while spending time inside.
Authorities say the suspects stole two firearms, personal checks, cards, as well as pieces of clothing, among others. Many of the stolen belongings have since been recovered, though the two guns remain missing.
Both of Philadelphia’s casinos, Rivers Casino Philadelphia located in Fishtown and Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia in the city’s Stadium District are believed to have fallen victim to the two men, according to the authorities.
Attorney General Sunday said surveillance images captured by exterior cameras allegedly showed M. entering vehicles, with B. acting as a lookout nearby.
Sunday described the case as a reminder for the public to take basic precautions, particularly when leaving valuable items inside a car.
“This case comes down to common sense. There really is no good reason to leave your vehicle unlocked,” Sunday said. “Gun owners, particularly, should be vigilant and know that weapons are valuable to thieves.”
Authorities went on to warn the public about the missing firearms that were stolen by the duo, reminding the public of the serious public safety risk they pose since they can be used in future crime or reach the hands of people prohibited from possessing them.
Casino security teams assisted the Philadelphia Gun Violence Task Force and the Philadelphia Police Department with the investigation.
Both men are now charged with felony theft and illegal firearm possession offenses, which carry the possibility of significant fines and prison sentences.
Court records indicate that B. has prior convictions, including a 2023 firearms offense, while M. has a criminal history that includes weapons-related charges.