Mike Motz, Sun-Telegraph
On Monday, January 2, at approximately 2:40 a.m. Winners, an entertainment venue featuring skill games with payouts, as well as video games and pool tables, located at 574 Chase Blvd. in Sidney was broken into and robbed of nearly $18,197.00 according to a police report filed with the Sidney Police Department.
No employees or customers were at the location at the time of the alleged robbery. Security cameras were able to capture an image of a man wearing a black hat and fingerless gloves carrying away a safe from the scene. Winners management informed Sidney Police that $18,197 was stolen from the facility.
Entrance to the building was apparently made when a back service door had a small window broken out, and the intruder then reached inside and unlocked the door. It appears the intruder exited the building the same way. An employee who was working January 1st until closing said she noticed nothing unusual prior to closing, and that all the employees had left the property by about 12:30 a.m. Monday morning.
Sidney Police have been looking through camera footage inside and outside of the building, as well as accessing footage from other businesses in the area that have cameras that show the parking lot and building of Winners.
Sidney Police Chief Joe Aikens said their investigation is underway, but they do not have a suspect at this time. Sidney Police is sharing information and footage with the Nebraska State Patrol and other local police departments in the area in hopes of uncovering possible leads.
The alleged robbery at Winners is the latest in a string of robberies over the past few years involving either Skill Game establishments or convenience/liquor stores that also have skill game on premises. Cash on hand to pay out skill game winnings is believed to be a contributing factor for the robberies that have been reported in Lincoln, Omaha, Hastings and North Platte, among other Nebraska communities.
If you have any information, please call the Sidney Police Department at 308-254-5515.
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