Massachusetts State Police have arrested 35-year-old Gary Hunt after he allegedly made off with $13,000 worth of casino chips from Encore Boston Harbor. According to statements obtained by Boston 25 News, the event occurred around 6 p.m. on Tuesday. Security at Encore notified the authorities that Hunt had taken chips from a table game and fled.
Witness accounts, as reported by MassLive, detailed that Hunt repeatedly left the gaming table to use his phone, a behavior that appeared to have been a prelude to his subsequent actions. During this time, he is alleged to have falsely claimed that someone had won a substantial amount, creating a distraction strong enough to allow him to stealthily grab 13 orange chips, each worth $1,000, from the dealer's tray.
The chips were stolen during what appeared to be a carefully timed act, as Hunt exploited the diversion to hastily exit through an emergency door. The police swiftly issued a description of the suspect, which led to his arrest in a parking area close to the casino premises. In a statement by Tim McGuirk, a spokesman for State Police, and as informed by WCVB, it was confirmed that several of the $1,000 orange chips were found in Hunt's possession.
During the investigation, authorities leveraged security footage to recover additional chips which Hunt had discarded while trying to flee, adding to the evidence against him. The precise circumstances leading up to the theft continue to be reviewed by law enforcement. As relayed by Massachusetts State Police, the apprehended suspect now faces charges including larceny over $1,200 and larceny from a building. Hunt was booked at the State Police Medford Barracks, where the consequences of his alleged attempt to outsmart casino security and the law are just beginning to unfold.
