Chicago Woman Stole $1,200 From Wallet At Harrah's, Might Have Gotten Away With It But Went Back To Harrah's: Cops

A Chicago woman got away with stealing $1,200 from an unattended wallet at Harrah’s but got caught when she pressed her luck and returned to the casino, police said.

Tanya Hamilton, 48, was arrested at Harrah’s shortly after 5:30 a.m. Monday and charged with theft.

A week earlier, Hamilton stole the $1,200 out of a wallet left on a chair, police said. Video reportedly captured Hamilton and a man walking by the wallet before she dipped her fingers in and took the money.

Hamilton may have gotten away with it, police said, but the lure of the downtown casino apparently proved too much for her to resist. Exactly seven days later, she and the her gentleman companion returned to Harrah’s, police said, security recognized them from the video, and they were detained.

Hamilton reportedly told police her companion had nothing to do with the theft. She also admitted to stealing from the purse but insisted she took only a couple hundred dollars, police said.

At the time of her arrest, Hamilton was allegedly carrying a bottle of hydrocodone that had been prescribed to someone else, police said, so she was also charged with the possession of a controlled substance.

Hamilton was taken to the Will County jail.