Police said a tip led them to 31-year-old Akingide Cole, who is accused of stealing $1.6 million in casino chips from the Venetian Casino in Las Vegas.
Deputies from the San Bernardino and Los Angeles county sheriff's offices took Cole into custody on Oct. 24, near his mother's home.
According to authorities, Cole somehow snuck into a restricted area around 6 a.m. Oct. 10 and stole the chips, without using a gun or confronting anyone.
So far, investigators have recovered $396,000 in chips. Because of internal protocol that would flag the biggest chips, the redeemable value of the stash is estimated at $10,000, according to Ron Reese, spokesman for The Venetian's parent company, Las Vegas Sands.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
