A Las Vegas police officer is facing trial for allegedly stealing nearly $165,000 in a series of casino heists. Caleb Rogers, a 35-year-old officer, is accused of committing three robberies over a four-month period while armed with a police-issued weapon. Prosecutors argue that Rogers, who is portrayed as a gambling addict drowning in debt, grew increasingly desperate. However, his defense attorney claims that the evidence linking him to two of the robberies is weak, accusing law enforcement of pressuring witnesses. The trial is set to begin on Monday.
According to investigators and prosecutors, Rogers is alleged to have stolen over $85,000 in the first two robberies, which occurred between November 2021 and January 2022 at casinos off the Las Vegas Strip. Despite his fellow police colleagues’ efforts to apprehend the thief, Rogers attempted another heist in February 2022 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, where he nearly made off with an additional $79,000. However, security guards were able to detain him after a brief struggle. In all three crimes, Rogers wore a face mask, dark clothing, and black latex gloves. He concealed the stolen money in a bag under his jacket before making his escape. Witnesses also noted his “unique gait” and limp due to a leg problem.
Mehmet Erdem, a professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, specializing in hotel and casino operations, explained the challenges of successfully pulling off a casino heist. Erdem highlighted the high risk of being caught and identified due to the robust security measures employed by casinos, including uniformed guards, plainclothes officers, facial recognition software, and high-definition cameras.
At the time of the robberies, Rogers was a seven-year police veteran working as an active-duty patrol officer for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. While he remains employed, he is currently on unpaid leave without police powers pending the outcome of the criminal case. Testimonies during the trial will include those of casino cashiers, security guards, and Caleb’s brother, Josiah Rogers, who identified him in video footage captured by casino security cameras during the first two robberies. Josiah has been granted immunity from legal action.
Court documents reveal that Caleb Rogers used his brother’s car in one of the robberies and instructed him to dispose of it shortly afterward. In the third alleged robbery, Rogers parked an unregistered minivan outside the casino and entered just before 7 a.m. He wore body armor under his clothing and carried a department-issued revolver with a yellow sticker covering its serial number. During the robbery, he climbed over the counter, shoved a cashier, and announced that he had a gun. As he collected the money, loose bills fell onto the casino floor. Security guards managed to catch up to Rogers just outside the casino’s exit, where he brandished his weapon and threatened to shoot them. However, one of the guards was able to disarm him.
When the police arrived at the scene, Rogers identified himself using his department personnel number, a common practice among police officers. During questioning, a detective asked Rogers if anything could have been done to prevent the robberies, to which he replied, “Nothing.”