A Las Vegas chef, who worked at the Bellagio, has found himself in hot water after an attempted theft of lobster tails. These tails are considered by many to be a delicacy, and the tails don’t come cheap. However, we can’t say we understand the chef’s plan when he decided to pack 25 tails in his backpack.
A chef working at the Bellagio in Las Vegas has been arrested for trying to steal 25 lobster tails. The tails are worth just shy of $1900.
Lobster Heist Carries Serious Punishment
Unfortunately for Alex Hernandez, the 49-year-old chef, he was spotted on surveillance cameras and security responded quickly. The Bellagio is owned by MGM Resorts, who have released a statement. In this statement they said that each lobster tail is worth $75, making the total value of his attempted heist $1875. After the casino’s security noticed the chef’s theft, they immediately called the police, who were able to arrest him.
Hernandez faces some fairly serious consequences for his lobster heist. He will be facing one count of embezzlement, which could see him facing restitution, paying up to $10 000 in fines, and spending up to five years in jail. Currently, he has been released on a $5000 bail bond. This is some pretty severe punishment for stealing some lobster tails.
Lobster Prices Called into Question
MGM has not released the name of the restaurant that the chef was working at. There are several eating establishments that have lobster on their menus, however, many suspect he was working at the Prime Steakhouse. This is the Bellagio’s AAA-rated Four Diamond restaurant. On its menu, diners will find cold water lobster tails.
Many online though were not all that sympathetic with the Bellagio. One online post said that if 25 tails are worth $1800, the chef isn’t really the one who is stealing. Another post said that the real crime was charging $75 for a single lobster tail. However, others have defended the price, saying that lobster tails cost so much because they have to be shipped from Maine to Las Vegas and then spoil quickly if the storage conditions aren’t correct.
Dave Cooper is the Senior Content Manager at CasinoUS.com, leading the creation of informative and engaging content for casino players. Fueled by a fascination for the intricate world of online gaming and a talent for storytelling, Dave holds a journalism degree from UNLV, a perfect launchpad for his illustrious career.
