1. Las Vegas Robbery News
2. Has Anyone Successfully Robbed A Las Vegas Casino
3. Recent Robberies In Las Vegas

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Slot player hits $4M jackpot on Las Vegas Strip A Dancing Drums Explosion video slot machine went boom on the Strip on Saturday night. Bellagio slots player wins nearly $4 million. The FBI believed that casino magnate Benny Binion ordered the hit on Coulthard when Coulthard refused to renew Binion’s lease of the Horseshoe Casino. Robbery and Execution of Al Bramlet. In the 1970s, Al Bramlet was the head of one of the country’s most powerful unions; Las Vegas’ Local 226. The Las Vegas Review-Journal is Nevada's most trusted source for local news, Las Vegas sports, business news, gaming news, entertainment news and more. For instance, Adrienne Maloof, a former cast member on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, is a successful entrepreneur as a co-owner of several business ventures that include Maloof Productions and the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. However, it was her divorce and disputes with other female cast members that were her main focus on the show.

Topics: Culture + Society

Research has shown that reality TV has an impact on the values of young girls and how they view real-life situations. That being the case, it’s important to take a look at some of the standards portrayed on reality TV.

Kim Kardashian was preparing to have her baby.

Instead of making sure she had her hospital room reserved and her bags prepared, she was instead on the phone with members of her “glam squad” to make sure they would be available to ensure her hair and makeup were perfect for the day of her delivery. Her sisters chastise her vain behavior as being “typical Kim,” and it is apparent where her values lie.

Meanwhile, on another cable channel, female socialites of Beverly Hills prepare for a dinner party. Almost as soon as the women arrive in their designer clothes, the wine, catty remarks and tears begin to flow. Throughout the booze-fueled dinner, the women accuse each other of spreading rumors, and the yelling and finger-pointing ensue. A typical dinner party for the “real” housewives.

Reality television is a huge part of our television viewing culture. It may be clear to many adults that not all is “real” in the world of reality TV. However, how do children and adolescents understand the world of reality TV? What could reality TV be teaching adolescent girls, in particular, about what is valued in the real world? And, how does it affect their attitudes, beliefs, self-image and behavior?

What are some of the common themes in reality TV?

Physical Beauty And Sex Appeal

Many reality shows depict women idealizing beauty and thinness, giving the impression that a woman’s value is based on her appearance, and that popularity is derived from beauty. Competition shows such as America’s Next Top Model perpetuate this ideal, as women compete with one another to gain a lucrative modeling contract. Plastic surgery shows such as Botched, as well as the former Dr. 90210 and The Swan feature people altering their appearance and becoming more satisfied with their looks and quality of life after surgery. Many cast members of other reality shows, such as The Real Housewives franchise, are very open about their numerous plastic surgeries.

Keeping Up with the Kardashians features the life of a family that spends a great deal of time and money on appearance, with a consequent rise in fame and popularity of its girls and women. Their Instagram pages, often followed by young fans of the show, are full of “selfies,” bikini and modeling photos. Photos that feature their “ordinary” everyday lives are highly sexualized, including the pages of the youngest teenage members of the family. This practice perpetuates the notion that “real” people gain popularity and happiness by focusing on their appearance—and to be successful, personal image, even at a very young age, should be laced with sexuality.

Materialism And Excessive Partying

Other common values perpetuated by reality TV include materialism, and an idealization of a hard-partying and “celebrity” lifestyle without regard for consequences. Both Rich Kids of Beverly Hills and Shahs of Sunset feature the lives of privileged young adults living in southern California. They take extravagant trips, wear designer clothes, spend a lot of money on alcohol-fueled parties, and are rarely seen working regular jobs. The cast of TheJersey Shore spends an entire summer binge drinking to excess, participating in risky sexual behavior, engaging in physical altercations, and even being arrested. Despite their obvious poor behavior and decision-making, their popularity continues to grow.

For anyone who has seen the 2013 movie The Bling Ring, this is an extreme example of how emulation of the celebrity and reality TV lifestyle can cause issues in teens. The movie is based on the true story of a group of teenagers in southern California who were responsible for the “Hollywood Hills robberies,” in which they robbed the homes of Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Audrina Patridge and several other celebrities. The teens idealized the party and high-fashion lifestyle that is often featured in gossip magazines and reality TV, and subsequently robbed the homes of celebrities to fuel this lifestyle. Although this is an extreme case, it does demonstrate the ability of this type of media to influence the values placed on materialism and excessive partying.

Aggression And Bullying

Reality TV typically reveals inappropriate behavior within peer groups, often promoting interpersonal drama, aggression and bullying. For example, women in The Real Housewives franchise gossip, back-stab and behave aggressively, condescending and catty toward one another. The expression of relational aggression between females seen across several reality shows gives girls the idea that gossiping is a normal part of a female relationship, that it’s in girls’ natures to be devisive and competitive with one another, and that being mean earns respect and is often necessary to get what you want.

As we try to discourage bullying, gossiping and other forms of interpersonal aggression between young girls, it’s unfortunate that reality shows often feature adults behaving in exactly this manner, all the while continuing to gain popularity in mainstream media.

Lack Of Focus On The Importance Of Intelligence And RealWorld Success

While reality TV seems to place emphasis on sex appeal, materialism, hard-partying and relational aggression, it does not emphasize the fact that many women on these shows are highly intelligent and successful in their real lives.

Las Vegas Robbery News

For instance, Adrienne Maloof, a former cast member on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, is a successful entrepreneur as a co-owner of several business ventures that include Maloof Productions and the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. However, it was her divorce and disputes with other female cast members that were her main focus on the show. Married to Medicine, a show featuring the lives of doctor’s wives and female physicians, focuses primarily on the conflicts among the women, not on their successful medical practices.

How To Talk With Your Children And Adolescents About Reality TV

It’s important to know how to talk to your kids about the blurred line between reality and reality TV. Since reality TV has such a strong foothold in American pop culture, it is likely not going anywhere or changing its content any time soon. However, parents can learn how to help their children critically appraise what they see in the media.

Tips for critical appraisal of the media:¹

1. Watch one or more reality TV shows with your teenager: First, ask what shows your teen is watching, and then determine which shows are appropriate for the age and maturity of your child. It might be that you decide that a young teen, like a 13-year-old, should not watch certain shows that a 16-year-old teen would be permitted. If you introduce “TV rules” such as these in your home, you might consider viewing the shows alone first before determining which are appropriate for your child. When watching a show with your child, feel free to make the statements or ask the questions posed in the tips below.
2. Make a clear statement about the reality of reality TV shows: This is important, since kids need to know that while reality TV appears to be “reality,” it is a sensationalized reality of the television world. Nevertheless, it has an impact, and like many TV shows, can serve as a foundation for imitation. Example: “You know these shows are NOT REAL. They look like real life but are written just like other shows.”
3. Find out what your child thinks is real: Start a conversation to gauge how your child views reality TV. There is no way of knowing what she thinks unless you ask. You can pose these questions about reality TV in general, or about a specific show that your child is watching. Examples: Ask her to describe what is going on in the show to get a sense for how she thinks people look and act. What is good or bad about some of the behavior you are watching together? Does she think people act in real life as they do on reality TV? If so, what has she seen among her peers or adults that resembles what she is seeing on reality TV?
4. Find out if TV images affect your child’s self image and values: Reality TV and popular culture can dictate what is “cool,” and what it means to be accepted. Find out if your child is emulating values portrayed on reality TV. Examples: Does she envy the lifestyle of the charchters? Is there anything she would change about herself or wish she could do after seeing a particular show? What values are being displayed in the show? What are her values?
5. Talk to your child about why she likes certain characters: It may be enlightening to find out why your child likes or dislikes certain characters. This can indicate what values your child may or may not be reflecting. Examples:What connections is she making between herself and the reality TV characters? Why does your child find certain characters appealing? Explore if that character is truly admirable, or is there something else that makes her or him seem cool. Does that character make a good role model? Would she like to behave similarly to that character? Who does make a good role model?
6. Ask your teenager about what her friends are watching: Most kids watch the same shows, as it gives them common ground for conversation. Ask about her friends’ reactions to certain shows, episodes and/or behaviors. Examples: What do her friends think is cool? Would her friends want her to act like the characters in the show? Would she want her friends to act in certain ways?
7. Help your child develop critical responses to what she observes on reality TV: Talking to the television and commenting when something seems unreal or scripted can help your child develop these critical skills. Use commercial breaks to discuss these elements or pause the show when you want to take a break and talk. Examples: Ask your child, “What is going on here? What is the message in this part of the show?” If your child cannot come up with answers, you can say, “I see people being really self-centered and vain, or nasty to a friend.” Your commentary may help initiate a conversation about the content of the show at any given point.

Although the programming of reality TV can be highly entertaining, it’s important to be aware of the messages and values that these shows often portray. More importantly, it’s essential to be aware of what our children are watching so that we can teach them how to recognize and process the skewed values of television reality. This is tricky, as this programming easily deceives viewers into believing it is a true reflection of the real world.

However, by following the tips above, your child can ultimately learn not to accept what is portrayed on reality TV as the truth, but rather to think more critically about what the characters are doing, and why they are behaving in certain ways. This knowledge will give your child the tools to develop stronger values, and a more solid self-esteem that is free from the influences of reality TV.

¹Adapted in part from PBS.org

Has Anyone Successfully Robbed A Las Vegas Casino

Holly Peek, M.D., M.P.H.

Holly Peek, M.D., M.P.H. is a resident psychiatrist at Tulane Medical Center in New Orleans. With a background in communication and media studies, her research has focused on the use of various forms of media by children and adolescents. Dr. Peek is ...

To read full bio click here.

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Las Vegas, Sin City, The City of Lights, has seen it fair share of crimes in the past century. From the legend of Native American killer Queho to the killing of mob henchman, here are the most famous Las Vegas crimes

The Legend of Queho

Queho was a notorious Native American Las Vegas outlaw who terrorized the region in the early 1900s. Queho has been implicated in at least six murders, beginning with the slaying of his half-brother. After the murder of the wife of an El Dorado Canyon miner, Las Vegas authorities were determined to bring in Queho, dead or alive. After years of eluding capture, Queho’s remains were discovered in a cave. Today, Queho and his crimes are Las Vegas legends.

Recent Robberies In Las Vegas

Murder of Martin Shumate

In December 1967, the body of Las Vegas cab driver Marvin Shumate was discovered on a mountain overlooking the city. Shumate had been shot in the chest and head. Although the murder has never been solved, it is widely believed that Benny Binion, owner of the Horseshoe Casino, ordered the hit after Shumate plotted to kidnap Binion’s son and hold him for ransom.

Death of Sonny Liston

Sonny Liston was a legendary professional boxer who was found dead in his Las Vegas area home on January 5, 1971. Liston’s body was discovered by his wife who was returning home from a two-week trip. Although the coroner said that there was not a lethal amount of heroin discovered in Liston’s system during autopsy, authorities attributed his death to an accidental drug overdose. Despite the official explanation for his death, many believe that Liston was murdered by the mob. Liston’s mysterious death is still fresh in the consciousness of Las Vegas, and as recently as 2013 the son of a deceased mafia hitman published a book claiming that his father confessed to murdering Liston via forced drug overdose.

Murder of retired FBI agent Bill Coulthard

In July 1972 a massive car bomb detonated inside of a downtown Las Vegas parking garage, killing the former head of the FBI’s Las Vegas office, Bill Coulthard. At the time of his death, Coulthard was a prominent local attorney and businessman who owned a stake in the land that the Horseshoe Casino was built on. Local authorities were immediately joined by the FBI and the ATF in an attempt to solve the high-profile murder. Despite a $75,000 reward for information and many wild goose chases, the case remains open to this day. The FBI believed that casino magnate Benny Binion ordered the hit on Coulthard when Coulthard refused to renew Binion’s lease of the Horseshoe Casino.

Robbery and Execution of Al Bramlet

In the 1970s, Al Bramlet was the head of one of the country’s most powerful unions; Las Vegas’ Local 226. Bramlet was notorious for his willingness to use violence to coerce cooperation. In 1977, Bramlet ordered bombs be placed in front of two nonunion restaurants. When the bombs failed to detonate and police discovered them, Bramlet refused to pay the men he hired to carry out the bombing. The bombers, father and son Thomas and Gramby Hanley, vowed revenge. A month later, the Hanley’s forced Bramlet into a van at gun point. They demanded payment for the botched bombing job, and after Bramlet arranged a $10,000 loan to pay his kidnappers, they drove him to a remote area of the Las Vegas desert and executed him. The father and son duo are serving life in prison for the murder.

Arson Fire at Las Vegas Hilton

In 1981, Philip Cline, a troubled 23-year-old busboy at the Hilton hotel, started a fire in the elevator lobby. The fire spread fast, trapping guests in their rooms. Eight people died, and over 200 were injured. Authorities initially believed that Cline attempted to put out the fire, but he gave himself up when he mentioned “grabbing a trashcan and filling it with fire.”After being convicted of eight counts of murder, Cline granted a jailhouse interview and confessed to the arson. He said that high on PCP, he used his lighter to set fire to some curtains.

Theft of $500,000 in cash and chips by William John Brennan

In September 1992, then 34-year-old William John Brennan walked out of the Stardust with $500,000 in cash and chips. Brennan was a sports book cashier at the casino. After the theft, Brennan disappeared and has not been heard from since. An arrest warrant charging him with 12 counts of felony theft has been issued for Brennan, however he remains at large to this day.

Robbery of $2.95 million from Circus Circus casino.

In 1993, Heather Tallchief drove away from the Circus Circus Casino in an armored truck with over $2.95 million inside. Tallchief and her accomplice, Roberto Solis, disappeared with the millions and were not heard from for over a decade. In 2005,Tallchief turned herself in to Las Vegas authorities. In 2006, a federal judge sentenced Tallchief to five years and three months in prison for her role in the heist. Roberto Solis has never been found and none of the stolen money has ever been recovered.

Kidnapping of Casino Mogul Steve Wynn’s Daughter

In 1993, the then 26-year-old daughter of casino mogul Steve Wynn was kidnapped and held for ransom. Two armed men abducted Wynn’s daughter from her home and demanded $2.5 million for her return. The kidnapper’s settled for $1.45 million when Wynn told them that was all he could get from the vault that night. He put the money in a plastic bag and left it in a car a couple miles off the Strip. After picking up the ransom, the kidnappers called Wynn and told him he would find his daughter in a parked car at a local airport. The young woman was shaken and tied up, but safe. The perpetrators were arrested days later when one of them attempted to buy a $200,000 car in cash, arousing the suspicions of law enforcement.

Murder of Tupac Shakur

On September 7, 1996, 25-year-old hip-hop legend Tupac Shakur suffered fatal gunshot wounds in a Las Vegas drive-by shooting. Tupac was the passenger in a car driven by Death Row Records founder, Suge Knight, when, while stopped at a red light at the intersection of E. Flamingo Rd. and Koval Lane, a white four-door late-model Cadillac approached and opened fire. Tupac was hit four times, once in the arm, once in the thigh, and twice in the chest. He survived his initial injuries and was rushed to the hospital, but he died there six days later of respiratory failure leading to cardiac arrest. The murder of Tupac Shakur devastated fans and the hip-hop community, and remains officially unsolved to this day.

Shooting of Herbert Blitzstein

In January 1997, Las Vegas mob legend Herbert “Fat Herbie” Blitzstein was shot execution style in his home. Seven mob members from Buffalo and Las Vegas were arrested in connection with the murder plot. Rival gang members wanted him out of the way so that they could take over his numerous profitable street rackets, including prostitution, insurance fraud, and loansharking. Fat Herbie was a fixture in the Las Vegas underworld and was a member of a burglary ring known as The Hole in the Wall Gang. The movie Casino memorialized the popular gangster with the fictional character Bernie Blue, who was created in his likeness.

Murder of Christine Smith

In 1998, 65-year-old Nevada resident Christine Smith disappeared. Three years later, her body was found in a garbage can inside of a storage unit owned by her daughter. The victim’s daughter, Brookey Lee West, allegedly killed Smith so that she could steal her monthly Social Security checks. Although she has only been convicted of one murder, West is believed to be a serial killer responsible for the deaths of at least three people. In 2012, West made Las Vegas headlines again when she tried to escape from prison.

Murder of Ted Binion

In 1998, Ted Binion was found dead on the floor of his Las Vegas home. Binion was a wealthy gambling executive and his father, Benny Binion, was a Las Vegas legend and casino magnate. A cocktail of prescription and illegal drugs was found in Binion’s system, and his death was initially thought to be a suicide. However, Las Vegas detectives believed that the scene of his death had been staged, and six months later, reclassified the manner it as homicide. In June 1999, Binion’s girlfriend and her lover were arrested for his murder. The pair was convicted, but their murder convictions were overturned in 2003. In their 2004 retrial, they were each acquitted of murder and convicted of lesser charges in connection with Binion’s death, including robbery and grand larceny. Both have since been released from prison.

Bellagio Cashier Cage Robbery

In 2000, two men dressed in body armor jumped over the cashier cage counter at the Bellagio. A third man served as a lookout. The men stole $160,000 in cash and chips and fled the floor. Authorities arrested three men in connection with the robbery; Oscar Sanchez Cisneros, Jose Manuel Vigoa, and Luis Suarez. Vigoa turned out to be responsible for multiple casino robberies and the murder of two armored truck drivers and was sentenced to life without parole. Suarez was sentenced to 15 years for his role. Cisneros hung himself in his jail cell four months after the robbery. In response to the theft, MGM Resorts installed bars around each of its Las Vegas Strip cashier cages.

Murder of Melissa James

In December 2005, a surprised motorist stumbled upon a torched Jaguar in the middle of the Las Vegas desert. In the trunk was the body of 28-year-old Melissa James, who had moved to Las Vegas just four months earlier at the insistence of her friend, Craig Titus. Titus, and his wife Kelly Ryan, were stars in the fitness industry, holding multiple bodybuilding titles between them. James had moved to Las Vegas to become the couples live in personal assistant, and less than six months later, she was dead. An autopsy revealed Melissa had been tased, strangled, and injected with a lethal dose of morphine. Although the couple initially denied involvement in James’s death, mounting evidence against them led to their arrest. In 2008, Craig Titus and Kelly Ryan pled guilty to the second-degree murder of Melissa James. Today, they are both serving time in Nevada prisons for their crimes.

Unsolved Attacks on Las Vegas Homeless

In December 2005, a panhandler was fatally shot in the street while he begged for change. This crime is still unsolved, and marked the first in a series of deadly attacks against the Las Vegas homeless population. Since 2005, five other homeless people have been randomly shot. Thankfully, two of the victims survived their injuries. All of the victims were shot with small caliber weapons, for no apparent reason, on or near bus benches. In 2011, after the last two victims were shot, Las Vegas authorities formed a task force to investigate the similarities of the crimes, and hopefully identify a suspect. The series of murders remains unsolved.

Luxor Parking Garage Pipe Bombing

On May 7, 2007, a pipe bomb detonated on the roof of the Las Vegas Luxor’s parking garage. The blast killed 24-year-old Willebaldo Dorantes Antonio. The bomb sat on top of the victim’s car disguised by a Styrofoam coffee cup, and was detonated by a motion sensor trigger. Suspect Porfirio Duarte-Herrera allegedly built the bomb for his friend, Rueda-Denvers, who was jealous that the victim was dating a former girlfriend of his. The act of violence terrified the community and had the potential to kill many more innocent bystanders. Both suspects have been sentenced to life without parole.

Robbery of $1.5 million in Chips

In December 2010, a man drove his motorcycle up to the Bellagio Hotel and Casino and walked inside still wearing his motorcycle helmet. He walked up to a craps table and robbed it at gunpoint, making off with $1.5 million in chips. Although the so-called Biker Bandit was able to escape with the chips, problems arose when he attempted to cash them. The thief, operating under the handle Biker Bandit, went online to attempt to arrange the sale of some of the stolen $25,000 chips. Undercover police officers arranged a meeting at the Bellagio to buy the chips and arrested 29-year-old Anthony Carleo when he showed up to sell them. Carleo is serving 3 to 11 years in prison for the heist.