Daytime robbery outside Jake's 58 in Islandia casts spotlight on security at casinos

Robust security is a must outside casinos like Jake’s 58 in Islandia — where police say a 71-year-old man was robbed Sunday in broad daylight in a parking lot — because of the perception that patrons may be carrying around large wads of cash, security experts say.

The man, who was not identified, was robbed about 3:40 p.m. while walking to his car after Suffolk County police said he'd scored "a large cash payout" at the casino. The alleged robber — who managed to grab only "a small amount" of cash before being chased off by good Samaritans — was arrested later Sunday at his home in Port Jefferson Station, police said.

Aaron Hayes, 24, pleaded not guilty Monday in First District Court in Central Islip to third-degree robbery, according to online court records. He was released without bail.

“My client is a very respectable young man. He comes from a great family. He went to college, and all the facts aren’t being reported properly,” Hayes’ lawyer, Mary Claire Hartill, of Riverhead, said Monday in a phone interview. “I can’t comment on the facts that are missing. We have faith in the legal system and that justice is going to be served.” 

Jake's 58 patrons typically are offered noncash prizes such as free or discounted hotel room stays and restaurant meals as part of the casino's rewards program, Suffolk County Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. officials have said. But would-be thieves may not know that — and may assume instead that anyone exiting the casino is loaded with cash, experts say.

"A casino is a casino," whether it is a traditional Las Vegas-style gambling parlor or a virtual casino like Jake's, said Fred Del Marva, a Glendale, Arizona, security and liability expert.

“There has to be a deterrent,” he said Monday in a phone interview. “It’s a business where one would perceive that someone going to a casino would have money.”

Security by the numbers

Suffolk OTB, the public benefit corporation that runs Jake's 58, employed 57 security officers at the casino as of the end of 2023, according to payroll records obtained by Newsday.

Of those officers, 46 were classified as full-time employees, the payroll records show.

Suffolk OTB also employed 16 people in its surveillance department as of 2023, the records show.

Some Jake's security officers patrol the parking lots in cars. Suffolk OTB president and CEO Phil Boyle, in a phone interview Monday, declined to discuss specifics of the casino's security operations.

He also declined to comment on Sunday's incident, citing an ongoing police investigation. He said decisions about increasing security would be determined after police complete their investigation.

"The safety of our patrons is our highest priority," Boyle said in a statement. "Our security team was pleased to assist the Suffolk County Police Department in making a very fast arrest in the case and we will continue to fully cooperate with law enforcement as they further investigate the incident."

Methods of keeping watch

Casinos should use "layered security" in parking lots, including surveillance cameras and active patrols, said Mark Meredith, a premises security expert with Robson Forensic in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. 

Las Vegas casinos, for instance, deploy security guards to walk and drive around lots, he said.

“You're going to have people who are going to show up” and make trouble, Meredith said Monday by phone. “If you install the proper security measures, you’re going to mitigate most of those issues.”

Citing the investigation, Suffolk police said Monday they would not detail the amount of money the victim won at the casino, nor would they detail how much was stolen in the robbery.

Police said the man was walking in the casino parking lot along Express Drive North when he was approached by Hayes, who reached into his pocket, grabbed cash, and began to flee.

But, police said, Hayes "realized he had stolen only a small amount" of the winnings and soon returned, knocking the victim to the ground. He then "started going through his coat pockets looking for more money" before two passersby intervened, chasing off Hayes, police said.

Hayes ran to his vehicle and fled, according to police.

The victim was not injured, police said.

Jake's is undergoing a $210 million expansion that will double the number of virtual betting terminals to 2,000 and more than triple the number of parking spaces.

Some temporary parking lots have been established during construction, Boyle said, adding all parking areas have lighting, surveillance and security staff.

Boyle said valet parking is available to take customers to and from their vehicles, and staff can walk patrons to their cars if they don't feel safe.

Del Marva said casinos are prime targets for robbers who scout parking lots in search of potential victims.

“Thieves who go rob someone don’t just rob someone. They look around," he said.

Newsday's Paul LaRocco and John Valenti contributed to this story. 

By Carl MacGowan

carl.macgowan@newsday.comCarlMacGowan

Carl MacGowan is a Long Island native who covers Brookhaven Town after having previously covered Smithtown, Suffolk County courts and numerous spot news and feature stories over his 20-plus year career at Newsday.